The executive chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, has expressed dismay over the alleged diversion of furniture meant for government schools by bad eggs within the state education system.
He said findings showed that such furniture was being sold to private schools, depriving pupils and students of the comfort required to enhance their education standards.
Dr. Kassim made the disclosure during a meeting with education secretaries from the state’s 13 local governments and eighteen development areas.
“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 Governor Abdullahi Sule to turn around the fortunes 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 have 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 would be withheld until satisfactory work was 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.
