Nelson A.Osuala [14 November 2016]
In a bid to silence most of his Critics as well as fulfill his promise to improve the standard of Education in the Paradise City of Calabar, Gov. Ayade PDP- led administration has again brought smiles on the faces of Cross riverians by providing basic educational learning aides for all Primary Schools in the State.
According to our source, The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), took a bold step by delivering educational aide to the State's Primary School board.
Some of the items and facilities distributed include:
1# 75,000 textbooks
2# 17,200 plastic furniture across Primary Schools in the state; As well as Brand new vehicles for easy movement and inspections by the management board.
Dr Stephen Odey, who seats as the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, made this known on Monday in Calabar while briefing newsmen on the activities of the board.
In his interview with news men, He added that apart from the textbooks and chairs, the board also received four Hilux vehicles and a Prado Jeep for effective monitoring of schools across the state.
Buttressing the above, he said:
“As I speak to you, the board has taken custody of 75,000 textbooks from our contractor and we are left with only 10,000. We have also taken delivery of 17,200 plastic chairs out of the 50,000 that we are expecting.
“We also received four new Hilux vehicles and one Prado jeep for effective monitoring of schools in the 18 Local Government Areas of the state”.
Contrary to popular belief, the Chairman debunked and considered as baseless, such media publications that alleges that the board was awarding contracts indiscriminately to cronies.
He assured the public that all contracts were awarded in line with the provisions of the law and that the Ben Ayade administration is keen at ensuring that every activities within the state is carried out effectively under the provisions of the law.
On the same vein, the Chairman informed that, 'The board has N7.5 billion counterpart funds from the Federal and State Governments kept in the Bank. And hence, Payment for any contract must as a matter of necessity, follow due process and certification.
“So, contrary to spurious publications in the media orchestrated by detractors, I do not have access to SUBEB money".
“We advertise for our jobs in an open bidding process.
“We have just completed analysis of 37 jobs which we advertised for and once all processes are done with, the contracts will be awarded.
“Here, we tried as much as we can to be very transparent in whatever we do, and our activities are open to public scrutiny,” he said.
Dr Stephen Odey further added that, the board had concluded plans to commence an electronic bio-data capturing for all primary school teachers in the state- A decision geared towards checkmating the disturbing issues of ghost workers and one aimed at an empirical determination of bona-fide teachers.
The capturing has become necessary following the approval by the state governor for the board to take-over the payment of primary school teachers.
“Once this is completed, from December, teachers will be receiving their salaries monthly,”
Source: Vanguard
Nelson A.Osuala
Is a Blogger & the Associate Editor of Negroidhaven.org
(Negroidhaven).
