80% Of NSUBEB Chairs/Desk Are Ready For Distribution To Junior Secondary And Primary Schools-House Committee Chair On Education

Rabiu Omaku

Honorable Daniel Ogazi (APC) representing Kokona East at the Nasarawa state House of Assembly has cleared the air over the lingering crisis surrounding the N1.099 billion desk/chair contract awarded to the Nasarawa State Vocational and Relevant Technology Board.

The chairman House committee on Education, Science and Technology unravelled that eighty percent of the furniture would be ready for distribution, He gave the charge in an exclusive interview with selected Journalists in his office.

He however maintained that the twenty percent of the remaining furniture would be handled locally by the Relevant Technology, Adding that a total of 550,000 desks would be constructed locally within the shortest time.

He attributed the delay in the distribution of furniture to constraint from the Relevant Technology board, He in addition unveiled that the board lacks the expertise to assemble the furniture, stating that the Memorandum of Understanding was for the supplier to deliver to the furniture in a knock-down.

“The relevant Technology board lacks the expert to couple the special furniture supplied by USA Company, while fielding question on the reason behind the delay in the supply of furniture since the award of the contract in 2011-2012.

“I will like to clear an impression that some people hijacked the supply of furniture is not true, There was an MoU between the state Government and the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board and later on to NSUBEB and to USA”.

It would be recalled that the non-supplied of the N1.099bn furniture by Relevant Technology and the subsequent breached of agreement between NSUBEB and the Relevant Technology board and the withdrawal of money by the secretary of NSUBEB and the consultant formed the basis of the Impeachment Saga of Governor Al-Makura.

Further findings revealed that USA a registered company with its headquarter in China deals was not conceived well , a source said the Chairman House Committee on Education was fingered among those accused of siphoning NSUBEB fund , as a source revealed that Hon.Ogazi held a sensitive position with Relevant Technology board during the saga.

The non-supply of chairs and desk to junior secondary and primary schools by top officials formed part of the basis of the last impeachment saga of Governor Al-Makura by the fourth Assembly.