Governors diverted UBE funds for 2007 elections – Ezekwesili

The former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili , on Tuesday accused some governors of diverting the Universal Basic Education (UBE) funds provided by the Federal Government to increase access to basic education in their states, to hire thugs and praise singers for elections.

She spoke at the 3rd Lagos Education Summit, held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.

The summit which had its theme as “Qualitative Education in Lagos State: Raising the Standard,” attracted stakeholders in the education sector including the former deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Adebisi Sosan, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and tutors-general across the state’s education districts among others.

Ezekwesili frowned at the fact that in 2006 when the UBE was launched, some state governors, who did not use the funds earmarked for recruiting teachers under the UBE scheme, instead channeled such funds to hire thugs and praise singers for the 2007 elections.

She said, “When the UBE was launched to increase access to basic education, there was demand for more teachers in all states of the federation. The Federal Government responded to the challenges by providing funds for recruiting more qualified teachers. At the end, some state governors used the fund to recruit praise singers and thugs during the electioneering campaign in 2007.

Enumerating some of the reasons for the fallen standard of education in the country, she cited the absence of analysis, data and research as some of the problems, recalling that the Department of Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Education was turned to contract-awarding department before her appointment.

 

Get more trends like this

Subscribe to our mailing list and get latest Nigeria trends in your inbox.

Get more trends like this
in your inbox

Subscribe to our mailing list and get latest Nigeria trends in your inbox.