Bayelsa State is projecting to generate N100 million monthly from the newly introduced Education Tax Fund, according to the state commissioner for education, Markson Fefegha.
Fefegha made the disclosure to BusinessDay in Government House, Yenagoa on Tuesday, at the end of the 75th State Executive Council meeting that was expanded to include both permanent secretaries and special advisers to the state governor.
Both political appointees and civil servants are expected to contribute a percentage of their salaries to the Education Tax Fund just as Fefegha appealed to all Bayelsans to support the state government in its bid to improve the quality of education in the state.
He told newsmen at the post council meeting briefing that everything is being done to commence boarding facilities in three secondary schools sometime in April this year in line with Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s vision for education in the state.
The three secondary schools, according to the commissioner, are Bishop Dimeari Grammar School and St. Jude’s Girls Grammar School, Yenagoa as well as Nembe National Grammar School, Nembe.
Fefegha who stated that the state government has expended over N30 billion in the education sector so far, explained that the Education Tax Fund will be used to rehabilitate, rebuild and sustain public education in the state.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite told newsmen that the fund is backed by legislature and that from “Governor Dickson to the least Bayelsan” are expected to pay the tax.
Obuebite said all Bayelsans would be factored into the payment just as the state government will deploy 5.0 percent of its internally generated revenue (IGR) into the Education Tax Fund.
He also informed newsmen that the state government has resolved to complete the 350-Bed Hospital and launch the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, which will ensure compulsory medical check ups for civil servants.
According to him, families of civil servants will also benefit from the health insurance scheme while thcie Bayelsa State Diagnostic Centre will be used for the medical check ups with the aim of averting certain ailments.
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