In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, described the media report as untrue and a misunderstanding of the government proposal on the issue.

Akorede explained that the proposal is just one of the several strategies the State government is considering, including staff verification exercise and improved internally generated revenue to resolve the salary crises at the local government level.

He said that Governor Ahmed had only directed the State Ministry of Education to work on modalities and assess the cost implications for the State government to take over the funding of junior secondary education, adding that the Ministry is yet to submit its report to the governor. He added that government’s decision would be made known as soon as the ministry submits its report.

Akorede stated that the government’s proposal to separate funding of primary schools from junior secondary schools is to reduce the financial burden on the local government councils in view of the financial challenges they are facing at the moment.

On the issue of bailout to local governments from the FG, Akorede clarified that there was no meeting between Governor Ahmed and Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo on the subject, noting that the issue was only raised during the National Economic Council Meeting.