One House Development Initiative Commends Adeleke Over Special Needs School Projects, Raises Concerns Over Feeding, Teachers’ Welfare

By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

The One House Development Initiative (OHI), a non-partisan organisation focused on education, health, inclusion and good governance, has commended the Osun State Government for infrastructure projects at the school for persons with special needs, including a classroom block, staffroom, perimeter fencing, gate and an ICT room facilitated by the Senior Special Assistant on ICT, Hon. Azeez Badmus. However, the organisation raised concerns over the welfare of special education teachers, school feeding, accessibility and alleged charges in public schools.

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It called for permanent employment for teachers and other staff who, according to the group, have worked for between five and 20 years on temporary arrangements with low pay. OHI also urged the government to address concerns over the reported ₦120-per-meal allocation and claims that pupils had gone without feeding support for an entire school session. The organisation further called for wheelchair-friendly classrooms, dormitories and pathways, as well as expanded vocational and technical education opportunities for children with special needs.

Speaking at the one-day programme organised by OHI on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Osun State Commissioner for Education, Mr Ibu, who represented Governor Ademola Adeleke, said the state ranked fifth among 31 states in the 2026 NECO and WAEC examinations. He described the ranking as evidence of progress in the education sector and credited government policies and investment in schools for the reported performance.

The commissioner also maintained that the state operates a total free education policy and disclosed that the government had recruited more than 2,000 teachers into public schools. According to him, the administration had planned to recruit 5,000 teachers but could not achieve the target because, he alleged, the Federal Government was withholding local government funds. Meanwhile, OHI questioned reports of school charges ranging from ₦4,700 to ₦30,000, including an alleged ₦10,000 fee for the Basic Education Certificate Examination, and called for greater transparency in teacher recruitment and improved conditions at the Teaching Service Commission office. The organisation also urged the Ministry of Education to respond to concerns it said had remained unanswered for more than 12 months.

On healthcare, OHI raised concerns about the funding and availability of specialist services in Osun, saying residents sometimes travel to facilities in Lagos, Ogbomoso, Ilorin and other locations for treatments and diagnostic services such as radiotherapy, MRI and CT scans. The organisation cited figures presented at the event concerning the state’s 2025 health budget and the doctor-to-population ratio, and called for stronger public-private partnerships, better training and improved incentives to retain healthcare professionals.

It also commended the Ministry of Health for responding to advocacy on health insurance coverage for members of the Albinism Association of Nigeria and the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria. The group called for improved sanitation in schools and sustained engagement between the government and civil society organisations, stressing that non-governmental groups have a role to play in promoting accountability and inclusive development.