LP Candidate Applauds Otti Over Abia Education Reforms, Says New Law Will Ease Parents’ Burden

By Praise Chinecherem

The Labour Party (LP) Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Ven. Tochukwu Ikezue, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for signing the state’s Educational Reforms Bill into law, describing the legislation as a major step towards sanitising the education sector and protecting parents from excessive charges.

Ikezue, in a statement issued by his campaign office on Friday, described the reforms as “bold, people-oriented, and a clear demonstration of what Labour Party governance represents.”

The new law introduces a number of measures affecting public and private schools across Abia State, including restrictions on school-related charges, examination practices and graduation ceremonies.

Under the reforms, the School Leaving Certificate is now pegged at N2,000, a move Ikezue said would help curb what he described as exorbitant charges imposed on parents.

The law also prohibits students from changing schools at the Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2) level, while students are expected to write their WAEC or NECO examinations in the schools where they completed SS2.

Another major provision requires students to pass a government-set examination before registering for WAEC or NECO. The measure is intended to strengthen academic standards and tackle examination malpractice and school racketeering.

The reforms further prohibit the practice of writing assignments directly inside textbooks, making textbooks reusable so that they can be passed down from one child to another within families.

The law also places restrictions on extravagant graduation ceremonies for nursery and primary school pupils, in a move aimed at reducing what the LP candidate described as the commercialisation of early childhood education.

Ikezue said the measures would provide relief to parents, particularly low-income families struggling with the rising cost of education.

“While other states are increasing the burden on parents, Governor Otti has shown that government can be on the side of the people,” he said.

He added: “This is the Labour Party template — making quality education affordable, accessible, and free from extortion. This is the kind of leadership we want to replicate in Anambra Central and across Nigeria.”

The LP candidate’s comments come as the debate over the affordability and regulation of education continues to dominate public discourse, with parents and stakeholders increasingly concerned about rising school fees and associated charges.