Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called for the amendment of
the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act to accommodate the
funding of senior secondary education across the country .
Speaking on Monday at the Government House Port Harcourt during a
courtesy visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic
Education and Services, Governor Wike also announced that Rivers State
will flag off the total rehabilitation of 174 primary schools in the
state.
Governor Wike said rather than establish another commission to cater for
the infrastructural needs of senior secondary schools, UBEC should be
empowered by law to handle such issues as it will be more economical for
the country.
“The amendment of the UBEC Act to accommodate senior secondary education
was started last administration, but it was not concluded. I therefore
call for the amendment of the UBEC Act to ensure that the commission
undertakes the funding of senior secondary.
“When we came on board, we discovered that the immediate past
administration did not access UBEC funds because of the failure to pay
counterpart funds. We have paid the counterpart funds and accessed
N5.6billion. By Thursday, we will flag off the total rehabilitation of 174
primary schools across the state. These schools will also be furnished “,
he said .
The governor said that his administration is re-positioning basic
education to secure the future of the state.
..
He regretted that though some states claim they have made primary
education their top priority, it is worrisome that such states leave
their UBEC funds un-accessed.
The governor informed the committee that the State Government has
written to the Federal Ministry of Education to take over two Federal
School in Ogu/Bolo and Aluu, which have been overgrown by weed after
they were completed by the Jonathan administration.
Earlier, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic
Education and Services, Mr Zakari Mohamned said Rivers State is one of
the top six states to access UBEC funds for the development of basic
education.
He said that the committee was in the state to assess the utilization of
UBEC funds for the development of key projecrs in the sub-sector.