The federal government will investigate all reported cases of imposition and collection of illegal levies in basic education institutions across the country, minister of state for education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has declared.

The investigation, according to the minister, is aimed at imposing sanctions on head teachers and managers who deny Nigerian children access to quality education.

Wike also declared that the free textbook programme of the federal government is one of the most imaginative ways of opening the treasury of learning to the Nigerian child.

Wike who spoke at the South-East books distribution noted that the federal government targets to kindle the future of the Nigerian child towards a greater intellectual development and rewarding career development for the children.

The Minister noted: “Apart from meeting the learning needs of pupils of all backgrounds, the free textbook policy is also intended to eliminate inequities and disparities in the education system in terms of access to study materials, as well as participation and performance in and out of the classroom”.

He noted that the federal government is distributing 2.99 million of primary school books and 560,000 copies of library resource materials in the South East.

Wike stated that goals of the federal government can only be achieved when stakeholders cooperate to deliver on basic education.

In a remark, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, executive secretary, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed said the commission has provided financial support to State Universal Basic Education Boards for the distribution of the instructional materials.

Flagging off the distribution of the books, Anambra State governor, Peter Obi said that though book distribution has been done in the past, this was the first time it’s been done transparently.

He said that the investments in the future of Nigerian children will enhance the development of the country.

Illegal Levies In UBE Programme, Federal Government Set To Investigate