Godwin Akor, Makurdi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has directed the immediate sealing of offices allegedly involved in fraudulent activities at the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Governor Ortom gave the order while receiving the interim report of the committee set up to investigate activities of the board.
The governor told journalists that any person indicted in the report would face consequences of his or her actions.
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He said serious allegations of fraud had been raised against highly placed officials of the board, stressing that it was discovered that some computer sets were allegedly given to him and ordered the immediate return of such computers for usage at the appropriate quarters.
The governor advised those allegedly involved in shady deals at the board said to refund monies diverted to government coffers as no person indicted in the report would be spared.
According to him, political appointees and civil servants who have found SUBEB to be a looting ground over the years would regret their actions because his administration would not spare any effort in bringing culprits to book.
Earlier, commissioner for Education and chairman of the committee, Prof. Dennis Ityavyah, had told the governor that a staff of the SUBEB, born in 1948, was still working at the board, pointing out that the board was seriously overstaffed.
Ityavyagh said it was discovered that illegal loans were given to some teachers, thereby complicating issues relating to salary payment at the board.
He said political appointees and civil servants have thrown due process to the dogs and urged the governor to completely overhaul the board in public interest.
The commissioner recommended that forensic auditing should be carried out at the board to completely unravel every aspect of the shady deals.
It would be recalled that two executive chairmen recently resigned their appointments in quick succession, an indication that something had gone wrong at the board.
As soon as one of the chairmen left office, Governor Ortom said over N800 million was recovered as a result of good management of the payroll system.
When the other chairman left office, it was alleged that a huge amount of money was lying fallow for some persons to divert but he did not know as “wise” members of the board were said to have played on his intelligence.
