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ENSUBEB tasks Enugu Assembly on alleged graft

By  Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
28 April 2015   |   8:48 am
THE Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) on Monday challenged the State House of Assembly to produce evidence of the alleged corruption within the board.
Nigeria. Image source africanglobe

Nigeria. Image source africanglobe

THE Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) on Monday challenged the State House of Assembly to produce evidence of the alleged corruption within the board.

In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Eberechukwu Nnaji, ENSUBEB expressed dismay over the resolution of the House of Assembly last week inviting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the activities of the board.

The lawmakers had also, during the sitting, urged the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to stop further financial dealing with the ENSUBEB pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The House, which had, before now, launched a probe of the activities of the agency over alleged poor handling of N3.6billion rehabilitation of school contracts, decided to clampdown on the agency. The decision was based on petition signed by two members of the board.

But Nnaji said they were “alarmed that the Enugu State House of Assembly moved a Resolution based on wild and unsubstantiated allegations made by two former board members.” She wondered how a legislative House that believed in ‘Due Process’ could pass a resolution portraying an agency of the state “in poor light”, following an allegation by two of the nine members of the board, even when such allegations were not investigated.

The statement added: “We want to assure our over 12,000 hardworking teachers, head teachers, volunteer teachers, school supervisors, non-tutorial staff and our service providers that ENSUBEB will continue to pay their salaries as and when due.

Education should be separated from politics; and, since our primary role is to ensure quality education for the children of Enugu State, we will continue this service diligently.

“ENSUBEB is not a contract agency. It is an Education Board established for the welfare of our children. We take our vision and mission very seriously and we will not allow dirty politics to interfere with the education of our children.

The current leadership of ENSUBEB headed by Ms. Nneka Onuora, is a strong believer in transparency and accountability, and properly follows due process in all its dealings.

The two former board members in question had taken active part in all board activities, including meetings, Tender Committee deliberations, bid openings, training workshops, project monitoring and other committee assignments.

“The other Board Members are disappointed with what could have motivated the two former Board members to file these false allegations. “We, therefore, appeal to the Enugu State House of Assembly and other relevant agencies to thoroughly investigate issues concerning ENSUBEB before taking decisions for the interest of children of Enugu State.”

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