It is no longer news that crisis, intrigues & cover-ups have been crippling basic education in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Since 2007, UBEC, acronym for Universal Basic Education Commission, has been embroiled in un-necessary leadership crisis fuelled by the desire of the powers-that-be to loot the funds meant for basic education.<\/p>\n
Dr. Lami Amodu was appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in April 2007 for a five year tenure. She was however unceremoniously removed in August 2007 to pave way for way for a more \u2018reliable\u2019 Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed. Even though nowhere close to being an educationist, based on his record at NTI for the previous seven years, Modibbo was considered a dependable agent for the Yar\u2019adua administration courtesy of Dr Ruma Sayyaddi who was definitely angling to steal the UBEC Funds having been in the Ministry of Education in the last weeks of the Obasanjo administration.<\/p>\n
The sleazy activities of Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, namely the multi-billion naira phony contracts for the procurement of textbooks from August 2007- September 2012 have since confirmed his mission to UBEC (See court proceedings in the case of FGN vs Molkat Mutfwang & others).<\/p>\n
As if it wasn’t bad enough that the textbook contracts were mainly handled by his wife\u2019s (Hon. Aisha Binani Ahmed) numerous companies vide a dubious procurement process, the books are allegedly not in the schools. (See Auditor-General\u2019s queries of April 2013).<\/p>\n
At the end of Dr Modibbo’s tenure, he boasted that he would be reappointed for a second term once the first lady Dame Patience Jonathan was back from her overseas trip of October 2012. That his handover to Prof Charles Onocha was publicized as ceremonial- as he would be re-appointed in no time.<\/p>\n
However, to Modibbo’s chagrin, Prof Onocha stayed on up till November 14th 2013. His tenure from September 2012 was of course remote-controlled by Dr Modibbo under the watchful eyes of Barr. Nyesom Wike, the supervising Minister for the Federal Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n
Now, Wike, for those who don’t know, is a staunch advocate of second term for Dr. Modibbo Mohammed for effective cover ups of the very serious issues raised by the un-answered queries of April 2013.<\/p>\n
The highlight of the un-answered queries is the non-existence of the multi-billion naira textbooks and the un-briddled hiring of private jets by both Wike and Modibbo for non-official engagements.<\/p>\n
The un-answered queries which must be covered have created more leadership crisis for UBEC with Onocha\u2019s remote-controlled tenure coming to an end on 15th November 2013.<\/p>\n
For reasons best known to the Federal Government, the appointment of a substantive Executive Secretary is still pending. In the circumstance, the mantle of leadership ought to fall on the shoulders of Dr Rasheed Adegbite, the Deputy Executive Secretary (Services) who is the next most senior official on ground.<\/p>\n
However, since he cannot be trusted to properly cover-up the un-answered queries against Wike and Modibbo, plans have been perfected to ease him out and instead install the Director of Admin & Personnel, Mrs Bridget Onekutu.<\/p>\n
Mrs Onekutu is said to be more dependable from the point of view of the\u00a0 duo of Wike and Modibbo because she benefited from the phony text book contracts. Besides, she had demonstrated unflinching loyalty during the hearings of\u00a0 the recently determined court case initiated by Dr Modibbo against four suspended UBEC officials – Molkat Mutfwang (Deputy Director, PRS); Prof Bridget Sokan ( Deputy Executive Secretary-Services) , Michael Aule (Asst. Director of Finance ) and Andrew Ekpunobi (retired Director, PRS).<\/p>\n
In the court case which has since been determined in favour of the defendants, Mrs Bridget Onekutu had served as Prosecution Witness No.2; having been granted a limitless and extended tenure as Director above the eight years stipulated by the Head of Service of the Federation and his circulars limiting the tenure of Directors in the Civil Service to eight years.<\/p>\n
The extension was single-handedly granted by Dr. Ahmed Modibbo specifically to enable her serve as PW-2. Now that the court case has ended, the only person who can truly cover the mess by Wike and Modibbo- the un-answered queries and possibly block the return of the suspended UBEC officers-\u00a0 is Onekutu.<\/p>\n
The return of the suspended UBEC Officers is definitely a sore leadership issue for UBEC as Prof B. Sokan is a Deputy Executive Secretary (Services) while Dr Adegbite who is still on ground is also a Deputy Executive Secretary (Services) with a subsisting tenure as \u2018appointed\u2019 by late President Yar’Adua on his sick bed on\u00a0 30th December 2010.<\/p>\n
Also, Architect Molkat Mutfwang , Deputy Director PRS since 2002 ought to return at least as Director, while the chair is already occupied by Dr Modibbo\u2019s appointee Alh. Sali Song (from Adamawa State and previously Deputy Director Admin & Personnel).<\/p>\n
Finally, Michael Aule, having been Assistant Director, Finance and Supplies since 2009 ought to now return Deputy Director or Director of the Finance Department, both of which are currently occupied by Dr Modibbo\u2019s henchmen.<\/p>\n
Ensuring that Mrs Bridget Onekutu, and not Adegbite or a new substantive Executive Secretary take over from Prof. Onocha is extremely critical for Wike and Modibbo.<\/p>\n
Not only will it effectively cover-up\u00a0 the textbook sham contracts and un-answered queries but may stall the ongoing breach of contract case instituted by Intermarkets Nig Ltd\u00a0 against UBEC, FME & TETFUND as it is already spiralling out of control. The court has ruled that N850 million- the kernel of the dispute- be paid into an interest-yielding account with the court. With Onekutu in place, a lot can be done to scuttle that case, and possibly avoid paying both the N850 million and the damages sought by Intermarkets Nig Ltd for breach of manufacturing contract.<\/p>\n
To save the situation and save basic education from total collapse- like tertiary education, President Goodluck Jonathan must urgently appoint a seasoned educationist with track records as Executive Secretary of UBEC.
\nSuch an appointee must be that who cannot be remote-controlled by Modibbo or Wike and must have the plight of the millions of Nigerian children at heart. He or She must be willing to:<\/p>\n
Initiate programmes that will attract and lure the over 10.5 million out-of-school children back to school,<\/p>\n
Audit the multi-billion text book contracts handled by Modibbo\u2019s Wife, Wike, Modibbo and Onekutu as the books are not in the schools.<\/p>\n
Finally, Mr. President must eliminate the syndrome of millions Nigerian school children sitting on bare classroom floors.\u00a0 This is the whole truth that is being covered-up by the Federal Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n
Tsode, a retired staff of FME, can be reached on tsodegarba1@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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