Biodun Esan, Ilorin
House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Universal Basic Education and services has commended Gov AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara for efficient use of the basic education grant in the state.
The committee, led by its chairman, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere gave the commendation in Ilorin during an oversight visit to Kwara State.
Ihonvbere also commended the state government’s determination to improve standard of education in the state.
A statement by Ameenat Abiola Atere, SUBEB Press Secretary said the commendation came barely one month after UBEC itself said Kwara now stands out for excellent utilisation of the grants.
According to her, UBEC observed the feat was a clear departure from its horrible experience with Kwara State in the past when the grants were diverted, resulting in official blacklist of the state for at least seven years (2013-2019).
The committee specifically applauded Gov AbdulRazaq for quality service delivery seen in the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission matching grants.
Ihonvbere said that Kwara sdeserves a pat on the back for the quality of the schools and other facilities funded from the money so far accessed.
“What we have seen so far in Kwara is of high quality and satisfactory.
“There is evidence of focus and commitment, and a clear interest in promoting basic education and empowering our children to survive in an increasingly complex technology driven global system.
“I think the best way to appreciate what is going on is to have the proper understanding of how it used to be, and we’ve seen a lot in Kwara,
“It is not always that we find a leadership (like AbdulRazaq) that understands basic education and its value to national growth and development.
“If the basics, the foundation is contaminated and corrupted, what it produces can never promote peace, stability, growth and development anywhere in the world, that is why basic education is very critical,” Ihonvbere added.
Ihonvbere said his committee members were just as impressed as he was about how the projects have been greatly executed in Kwara State.
He added that the committee will officially communicate their judgement of the assessment to the Governor and other appropriate quarters as part of its oversight functions
“As an academic and the Chairman of this committee, and I am sure my members share the same sentiment, we are very pleased and happy with the programmes of Kwara State.
“There are states that have collected marching grants from UBEC and have not deployed them to basic education.
” A few of the states have jettisoned the action plans of UBEC; they are doing something else with the money.
“Some have done wishy-washy works. With time, this Committee will release a list of our observations in various states,” he said.
“Without education you cannot go anywhere. It is not rocket science. And I think Kwara State seems determined to change the narratives. We are pleased about it,” he said.
According to him, no efforts will be spared to sanction the states found to have diverted the UBEC grants, including taking steps to retrieve some abandoned facilities the Commission allocated to some defaulting state governments.
“There are penalties for states where UBEC allocated critical infrastructure to some state governments but were abandoned.
“We are amending the UBEC Act so that UBEC can retrieve such facilities and put them to public use.
“Secondly, we are looking at ways to compel compliance with the law of the land; a situation whereby states that have not accessed the marching grant or have accessed it but used it wrongly will face some penalties,”Ihonvbere added.
He also hinted that state governments that comply with UBEC’s action plans will be rewarded with more support to serve as an encouragement to do more.
“At the level of the committee, the National Assembly and the UBEC, states that utilized UBEC grants perfectly like Kwara will get additional support as a reward, so that it will encourage them to do more,” Ihonvbere added.
“I would like to advise state governments to take basic education seriously in their own interest.
“Bulletproof cars, dogs and barbed wire cannot save them from the anger of uneducated, abused and marginalised children in the consequences,” he said.
He commended the management of the State Universal Basic Education Board and their Chairman, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja for proper monitoring and their insistence on delivery of quality jobs by contractors.
Some of the schools the committee visited included Ogele LGEA Primary School, Ogele and Otte LGEA Primary School Otte-Oja (both in Asa Local Government area).
Others were Sheikh Alimi Junior Secondary School (Ilorin West); Amoyo Junior Secondary School (Ifelodun); Gaa-Akanbi Junior Secondary School (Ilorin South); Shao LGEA Primary School, Shao (Moro); and Adeta UBEC Model Smart School in Ilorin West local government of the State.
On the entourage of the chairman were oher members of the National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee on the oversight vist.
They were: Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin; Hon. Bashir Dawudu; Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo; Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe; Hon. Cook Ganiyu Olododo; Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga; Hon. Usman Abdullahi; Hon. Peter Owolasi; and Hon. Bukola Oyewo.
UBEC was represented during the tour by Dr. Jimmy Equensen and Engr. Yissa Yakubu.
Chairman Kwara SUBEB, Professor Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the school projects cover renovation, construction, and comprehensive remodelling of various structures across at least 605 public schools in the State, including provision of furniture, public toilets, and water facilities.
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