Accountability Project (SERAP), disclosing how “the government spent
Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds on primary school
education between 2015 and 2019 including spending N45 million in one
week to train one thousand primary school teachers.”
This development was disclosed today in a statement by SERAP deputy
director Kolawole Oluwadare.
The government’s response followed FOI requests SERAP sent last month to
the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), UBEC and
other 35 state universal basic education boards, seeking details of
spending on primary education across the country, given the poor state
of education in many states of the federation.
In the letter with reference number NS/UBEB/S/OFF-69/VOL.I/XX and signed
by the Board Secretary Yakubu Ahmed Ubangari, on behalf of the Executive
Chairman, the Nasarawa State Education Board disclosed that, “Our
counterpart fund for primary education in 2015 was N866,756,76 while the
matching grant was N876,756,756,76. In 2016, our counterpart fund was
N607,848,100.48 while the matching grant was N607,849,100.48. The total
fund we accessed in 2015 was N1,753,513,513.52. For 2016, it was
N1,215,698,200.96.”
According to the letter, “In 2015, we spent N45,000,000.00 in one week
to train 1000 primary one and two teachers on Jolly Phonics teaching in
our schools. The objective is to improve staff and pupil’s synthetic
phonics in English language and to read and write effectively. The
training took place in the 3 Senatorial district centres in the state.”
The letter with accompanying documents dated 21 May 2019, but which
SERAP said it received last Friday, read in part: “We spent
N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms with 1 office at Kwagshir
Primary School. The construction was done by Gibbs Scientific Nigeria
Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms with 1 office
at Riri Primary School; the construction was done by Mu’uru Puhu
Services Nigeria Limited.”
“We spent N3,030,791.00 to construct toilet with 4 compartments; the
construction was done by A. Odumu Unique. We spent N220,472,000.00 on
supply of chairs and desk; the supplier was Innate Resources Services
Limited.”
“We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Yarkadde
Primary School, Keffi; the contractor’s name is Dan Dogara Oil Limited.
The project is 100 percent completed. We spent N13,925,336.36 to
construct 3 classrooms block at Feferuwa South Primary School, Lafia;
the contractor’s name is Alfada Global Ventures Limited. The project is
96 percent completed; the balance of N526,213.68 to be paid.”
“We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Abebe
Primary School, Keana; the contractor’s name is Calfez Nigeria Limited.
We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Igyomuh
Primary School, Keana; the contractor’s name is Suleimaniya Integrated
Services Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms
block at Yelwan Bassan Early Child Primary School, Kokona; contractor’s
name is Dougymarks Nigeria Limited.”
“In 2016, we received N165,000,000.00 which was spent as follows:
N45,000,000.00 was spent on Training of Primary One, Two and one Jolly
Phonics; N78,110,080.00 was spent on Training of Basic Education
Teachers and Administration on Clusters; N20,000,000.00 was spent on
Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE); N10,000,000.00
was spent on Training of LGEA Quality Assurance Teachers; N8,250,000.00
was spent on Training of 165 ECCD Staff, while N3,639,920.00 was spent
on LGEA Cluster Support Mechanism Training.”
“N78,110,080.00 was spent to train 1550 basic education teachers and
school administrators on cluster model in 31 centres in the state. The
training was for 13 weeks. We spent N20,000,000.00 to train 300 teachers
to strengthen mathematics and science education (SMASE). The training
was for six weeks. Also, we spent N10,000,000.00 to train 150 teachers
on Quality Assurance in our schools; the training took 3 weeks. We spent
N8,250,000.00 to train 165 teachers on the use of curriculum and
teachers’ guide, and instructional materials; the training took one
week.”
“We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Wayo Primary
School, Wamba; the contractor’s name is First Trinity Integrated
Services Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms
block at Apringbo Primary School, Doma; the contractor’s name is Honey
Darl Pharmacy. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block
at Umme Primary School, N/Eggon; the contractor’s name is Abufat Global
Ventures.”
“We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Nahuche
Primary School, Nasarawa; the contractor’s name is Nlonnu Global SGL. We
spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Pesin Primary
School, Toto; the contractor’s name is Sofian Al-Venture Limited. We
spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Mama Pilot
Primary School, Wamba; the contractor’s name is VAASR Multi Venture. We
spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Mudu Primary
School, Doma; the contractor’s name is Baba Muha Ventures.”
“We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at Saura Mada
Primary School, Kokona; the contractor’s name is Ayime Kweyi
Enterprises. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms block at
Tungan Nupawa Primary School, Lafia; the contractor’s name is Fas Field
Investment Limited. We spent N13,925,336.36 to construct 3 classrooms
block at Angwan Waje Lalle Primary School, Lafia; the contractor’s name
is Husnil Husna Nigeria Limited.”
SERAP said: “We are studying the large documents on spending on primary
schools in Nasarawa State, with several purportedly completed but also
some uncompleted. Our team is analysing the total project sums,
comparing the amounts spent on projects. We will publish the full
information on our website and social media platforms shortly. We have
also set up a national verification group to visit the state and other
states of the federation to check the status of projects against the
total amounts reportedly spent and to talk to all the contractors
involved.”
It would be recalled that SERAP had in an FOI request to the Nasarawa
State Universal Basic Education Board stated that: “Since assuming
office, Nasarawa State Government has reportedly received over
N3.4billion from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Nasarawa
State also reportedly received N47.6billion from Federation Accounts
Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2018, at an average of N3.97billion
monthly.”
SERAP’s FOI request read in part: “Despite the huge resources available
to the State Government and the massive budgetary allocations to primary
education in Nasarawa State including from the UBEC funds, several of
the around 1,310 schools across the State are in shambles, and with very
poor teaching facilities, thereby jeopardizing the futures of tens of
thousands of Nigerian children in in the State.”
“Nigeria is also a state party to the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Charter on Human
and Peoples’ Rights, which require states parties to promote
transparency and accountability in the spending on education, and take
steps to improve and expand quality and free education for all.”