Oshimili South, Delta State – April 28, 2025
The Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Samson Ekene, has publicly expressed support for the recent directive issued by the Delta State Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, mandating unregistered private primary schools to obtain approval within 21 days or face closure.
Speaking to journalists in Asaba on Monday, Comrade Ekene praised the commissioner’s decision as timely and thoughtful, describing it as a step towards sanitizing the private education sector and ensuring quality standards in primary schools across the state.
Comrade Ekene who was flanked by Mrs. Ngozi Egbeasor, treasurer of Oshimili South NAPPS, said: “We commend this policy. It is not only necessary but long overdue. We also appreciate the commissioner’s approach of giving schools time to comply rather than shutting them down immediately,” Ekene stated.
However, the Oshimili South NAPPS chairman also raised concerns about potential corruption at the grassroots level, warning that some local government officials might exploit the policy for personal gain.
“Oftentimes, implementation gets sabotaged. Instead of enforcing the law, certain ministry officials collect money from unapproved schools and feed false reports to the government,” he alleged. “This undermines the system and allows illegal schools to continue operations under the radar.”
To ensure fair and transparent enforcement, he appealed to the commissioner to set up a joint committee involving members of the association to assist in identifying unregistered schools in the local government.
“We are on the ground. We know where these schools are, and we can help ensure that only properly approved institutions are allowed to operate,” he said.
Comrade Ekene emphasized the need for all private schools to fulfill their civic responsibilities, including tax payment, and condemned those operating for years without approval. “It’s unfair. Registered schools follow regulations and pay taxes, while others cut corners and bribe their way through. That must end.”
He also proposed a grassroots awareness campaign titled “Get Approval or Shut Down”, which he said NAPPS is ready to lead if the government lends its support.
“Getting approval is not a hard process. If your school cannot meet the minimum operational standard, you should not be in operation. Incidents from such schools damage the reputation of all private institutions,” he noted.
NAPPS reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the government in raising education standards and ensuring that every private school in Delta State operates legally, safely, and ethically.
