Tina Agosi Todo, Calabar
Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Bassey Esu, has called for the deduction of five percent from the monthly allocation of local government funds to support the funding of basic education across the state.
This proposal was presented during a strategic meeting with chairmen of the 18 local government councils, organized by the State Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey.
Esu, represented by the Board’s Permanent Secretary, Etta Inyang, noted that the deduction would significantly enhance SUBEB’s ability to manage primary and junior secondary education, as well as address critical challenges within the sector.
Inyang explained that prior to 2015, a five percent overhead cost was deducted at source from the emoluments of primary school teachers and staff of local education authorities, and paid directly into the SUBEB account. This, he said, ensured smooth delivery of basic education services.
“You may recall that at the inception of the State Primary Education Board, deductions—including a 5% overhead—were made directly at source and remitted to SUBEB. This system allowed for efficient and uninterrupted service delivery,” Inyang said.
He urged council chairmen to consider revisiting the policy, suggesting that if five percent appears excessive, the councils could propose a realistic and sustainable percentage for legislative consideration.
Also speaking at the event, Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, encouraged local councils to allocate part of their resources to fund the offices of Education Secretaries, in order to revitalize their operations and enhance efficiency.
On her part, the Director of the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education, Dr. Alice Olom, stressed the importance of reviving adult education programs to provide educational opportunities for residents who missed out on formal schooling.
Adding his voice, Chairman of the Local Government Chairmen Forum, Yibala Inyang, advocated the recruitment of more teachers across the councils to strengthen basic education and improve service delivery in the state.
