By NEXTER
The Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, has expressed dismay over alleged diversion of furniture meant for government schools by bad eggs within the state education system.
He said findings showed that such furniture were being sold to private schools thereby depriving pupils and students the comfort required to enhance their education standard.
Dr. Kassim made the disclosure during a meeting with education secretaries from the 13local governments and eighteen development areas of the state.
“Our students cannot be sitting on the floor while headmasters and education secretaries sell furniture we provided.
“I have visited schools and seen firsthand how children sit on floors, yet records show furniture was provided. I will not tolerate this under my administration,” he warned.
According to him, his administration is taking steps to recover the diverted furniture in collaboration with security operatives.
Dr. Kassim noted that he was appointed by the Governor Abdullahi Sule to turn around the fortune of basic education in the state, adding that he is more than determined to achieve his mandate even if it means stepping on people’s toes.
He warned education secretaries against illegal deductions of salaries of teachers under them except on disciplinary grounds, saying any ES who disobey this order will his/her self to blame.
He also directed the education secretaries not to allocate school land to small business ventures without the board’s permission, citing instances where individuals claimed school lands for personal use.
He announced plans to establish a maintenance unit in each local government to protect and safeguard SUBEB properties, warning that poorly executed contracts would be revoked, and contractors’ payments withheld until satisfactory work is completed.
“We cannot renovate a school this year and have the same structures renovated next year. It indicates a problem with the initial contractor’s work. We will not pay contractors until we are satisfied with the quality of work,” he stated.
