The Imo State Government has paid N3. 8 billion, being the three-year arrears of counterpart funding to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Emeka Ihedioha on Public Enlightenment, Prince Eze Ugochukwu, said that the amount represented the arrears owed the commission in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Ugochukwu quoted the Commissioner for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, as saying that former governor, Rochas Okorocha stopped paying UBEC counterpart funds in 2016.
Onwuliri, who spoke while on a working visit to the lmo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) Headquarters, Owerri, commended lhedioha for paying the UBEC counterpart funds up to date.
While commending the governor for living up to expectations by doing the needful, Prof. Onwuliri reminded the Management and Staff of the Board, that they are also an integral part of the Ministry of Education. Consequently, she directed the Executive Chairman to seek approval before taking any action on official matters.
Prof. Onwuliri also noted the need for the board to ensure that school premises are fenced in order to secure the land from encroachment and the facilities from burglary.
She decried the alarming rate of allegations of racketeering and extortions amongst IMSUBEB staff with regards to ongoing employments and the award of contracts, warning that anybody caught in such illegal act, would be sanctioned accordingly.
The Executive Chairman of the Board, Prof. Obioma lheduru, stated that the Board is concerned with basic education, which is the foundation for learning. He said that IMSUBEB is an offshoot of UBEC, with 50 per cent funding from the Federal Government and 50 percent from the State Government.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the Board is presently assessing the 2016 and 2017 funds from both the Federal and State Governments, as a total of 275 projects have been identified out of which 175 are new ones.
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