The Ondo State Government has introduced a digital payment gateway for financial transactions in public schools across the state, with a ban on cash payments as part of efforts to curb illegal collections and promote transparency in the management of school finances.
The new policy, which is expected to take effect with the commencement of the new academic session, was disclosed by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology during a meeting with executives of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools in Ondo State.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology said principals across the state had already been sensitised to the new payment system to ensure effective implementation.
He explained that the decision followed several complaints concerning illegal and unauthorised collections in public schools during the previous academic session.
According to him, he personally visited some schools to verify the complaints and discovered that some unauthorised collections were indeed taking place.
The commissioner said the findings prompted the ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and its technical team, to develop a digital payment gateway that would enable the government to track and document financial transactions carried out in public schools.
He stated, “From now on, every payment will have to pass through the gateway, and we have placed a ban on cash payments.”
He added that the system would make it difficult for illegal collections to be concealed or denied, as every transaction would be properly recorded and traceable.
The commissioner, however, clarified that the digital platform was not intended to take over funds belonging to individual schools, but rather to strengthen transparency, accountability and effective monitoring of school finances.
He explained that payments made through the platform would be remitted to the appropriate school accounts, assuring school authorities that the initiative was primarily designed to eliminate financial irregularities.
The commissioner further disclosed that the payment gateway had been approved by the state governor several months ago, stressing that its implementation was a government policy that was not open to negotiation.
He urged school bursars to cooperate with the partner handling the platform, saying their support would be crucial to addressing existing abnormalities in the administration of school finances.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Akindele Ige, said the digital payment system would improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in the financial administration of public schools.
Ige urged the bursars to engage other stakeholders and properly educate them on the operation of the new system, noting that adequate understanding and cooperation would be essential to its success.
The Chairman of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools, Mr. Fisayo Fapounda, commended the ministry for introducing the initiative, describing it as a positive development that would improve transparency in school financial management.
Fapounda, however, called on the payment gateway partner to engage more extensively with members of the association to ensure that all bursars were adequately informed and to guard against misinformation surrounding the new system.
The new policy is expected to provide the state government with greater oversight of financial transactions in public schools while helping to reduce unauthorised fees and other forms of illegal collections.