The Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has denied approving an alleged N8,000 blood-testing exercise reportedly conducted at the CAC Adu Memorial Grammar School, Oke-Aro, Akure.
The ministry said neither it nor the state government authorised, approved or directed the alleged exercise, stressing that school principals were not permitted to organise such activities or impose financial charges on students without the approval of the appropriate authorities.
The ministry made its position known in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Bisi Lawani, on Tuesday.
The controversy followed reports that students at the secondary school were subjected to a blood-testing exercise for which they were allegedly required to pay N8,000.
Reacting to the allegation, the ministry said it had not approved any policy requiring students in public secondary schools to pay such an amount for blood testing.
“The Ministry has not approved any policy requiring students in public schools to pay such an amount for blood testing,” the statement said.
It added that any collection of the alleged fee, if established, would have been undertaken without the ministry’s authorisation.
The ministry also stated that it had been informed of the reported involvement of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the matter. According to the statement, the NSCDC was expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged exercise and establish what actually occurred.
The education ministry warned school principals and administrators across the state to comply strictly with approved government policies, regulations and directives.
It said principals were responsible for effective administration and supervision within their schools and should maintain proper oversight of staff, students and activities taking place on school premises.
The ministry further warned against unauthorised financial collections and activities capable of undermining public confidence in the state’s education system.
“No individual is permitted to use his or her position to impose unauthorised charges or undertake activities capable of undermining the confidence of parents and the general public in the State’s education system,” the statement said.
The ministry urged parents, guardians, students and members of the public to report suspected cases of unauthorised money collection or other irregularities in public schools to the appropriate authorities.
It said such reports would enable the government to investigate alleged violations and take necessary action.
The ministry also warned that disciplinary measures would be imposed if investigations established that any officer was responsible for the alleged unauthorised exercise or collection.
The development comes amid broader discussions about health-related screening and testing in Nigerian schools. Federal education guidelines published earlier in 2026 provide for drug-integrity testing for new students, with testing to be conducted through school health facilities in collaboration with approved government health facilities. However, those guidelines concern drug testing and do not establish an N8,000 blood-testing charge of the type alleged in the Ondo incident.
The Ondo Ministry of Education said the state government remained committed to protecting students’ welfare, promoting transparency and accountability in public schools and maintaining the integrity of the education system.
Until the investigation establishes what happened at the school, the allegation that students were required to pay N8,000 for the blood test remains a matter under inquiry.
The ministry said appropriate administrative and legal action would follow if the allegations were proven.
