Godwin Akor, Makurdi
The last may not have been heard about the ongoing probe into alleged diversion of funds at the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), as Governor Samuel Ortom, says the organisation must give reasons for the non-remittance of over N7 billion taxes to the state’s revenue board.
Governor Ortom, who raised the issue while flagging off the distribution of over 35,000 customised plastic chairs and tables for primary school, on Thursday, noted that if less than N1billion could be used for the chairs and tables which would be up to 70,000 at the end of the year, then N7 billion could be used to transform the entire primary education sector.
He said the probe of SUBEB has no political connotation and asked those involved in the alleged fraud to return the loot or face prosecution.
Governor Ortom maintained that his administration was passionate about primary education, adding that a counterpart fund of N2 billion was being sourced so that Benue State could have a total of N4 billion to further spend on the development of primary education.
He used the occasion to call on Benue people to be vigilant on the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that, on Wednesday, the chairman of the action committee on the disease and deputy governor of the state, Engr. Benson Abounu, intercepted a bus loaded with persons from Kano (a high risk area).
The governor, however, said plans were underway to repatriate the people back to where they came from.
Earlier, Commissioner for Education in the state, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, had said before now, children in many primary schools across the state were sitting on the ground to receive lectures, but that was changing now.
Earlier in the week, Governor Ortom had approved the redeployment of four directors at SUBEB due to alleged fraud and consequent indictment by an investigation committee headed by Prof. Ityavyar.
