The Lagos State Government has disclosed that it disbursed a total of N4.2 billion over a four-year period to cover West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) fees for students.

The announcement was made by Governor Sanwo-Olu during the Ministerial Session of the 67th National Council on Education meeting in Ikeja.

The session’s theme was “Addressing the Challenges of Policy Implementation: A Panacea for the Achievement of Education 2030 Agenda.”

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The Commissioner for Primary and Basic Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, represented the governor during the event, highlighting the government’s commitment to fulfilling the payment of WAEC fees for all SS3 public school students.

Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that this policy had been in place since 2000, originating during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as the Lagos State Governor.

The governor provided details on the financial commitment, stating that the initiative, which commenced with N200 million in 2000, had evolved into an annual expenditure of over N1 billion.

Over the past four years, the government has disbursed a total of N4.2 billion to uphold its commitment to covering the WAEC fees for public school students in SS3, ensuring inclusivity in secondary school education.

Governor Sanwo-Olu underscored the government’s dedication to facilitating easy access to education, irrespective of gender or capability.

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He mentioned the introduction of free education at the primary and secondary levels through the Lagos Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Law of 2005.

This law mandates parents and guardians to ensure that school-age children in their care attend school, contributing to an increase in enrollment and the establishment of six secondary schools between January and November.