The Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State has raised concern over the poor state of public schools across the state, even as N19.18bn in intervention funds reportedly lies unspent with the State Universal Basic Education Board.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported last week that the Universal Basic Education Commission disclosed that Benue State recorded the highest amount of unspent education intervention funds among all states, totalling N19.18bn.
The opposition party faulted the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia for failing to access the money, despite the urgent need to improve school infrastructure and learning conditions in the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its state Publicity Secretary, Bright Antyo, the PDP described the situation as an indictment of a government which, it claimed, had consistently shown an alarming gap between its public pronouncements and the realities facing ordinary residents.
The statement read in part, “At a time when children in other states are learning in upgraded school facilities, following the unprecedented resources available to the governments of their states as a result of fuel subsidy removal, the discovery that billions of naira earmarked for basic education in Benue State have remained unspent is nothing short of scandalous.”
The party urged the state government to explain the various tranches of UBEC intervention funds released to it and why they were not used within the appropriate period.
It also asked the government to disclose the specific projects approved for the funds and the progress made in implementing them. The party further wanted to know whether the state had provided the required counterpart funding and met all the conditions for accessing the intervention.
The PDP also demanded an account of where the N19.18bn currently is, and the measures in place to ensure that every naira is tracked and deployed for its intended purpose.
In addition, the party questioned why public schools across the state remain in poor condition when substantial education intervention funds are available.
The PDP called on the state government to publish a comprehensive breakdown of all UBEC funds received since the Alia administration began. According to the party, this should cover counterpart contributions, approved projects, contracts awarded, payments made and outstanding balances.
“Governor Alia must understand that public funds are not political trophies to be displayed in government accounts.
“They are resources entrusted to government for the benefit of the people. Money appropriated for the education of Benue children must be put to work to ensure that Benue children have access to quality education,” the statement added.
