Press Releases

Fashola Calls For Revision Of Implementation, Disbursement Of UBE Funds

Jul 24, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday called for a re-visitation of the implementation and disbursement of the funds of the Universal Basic Education system across the country.

According to Governor Fashola who spoke when he played host to the Chairman and members of the Governing Board of the Universal Basic Education Board at the Lagos House, Ikeja, there should be flexibility in terms of how the funds is applied.

Governor Fashola added that for a State like Lagos, its high population figure is not an accident, but one which has come about because while people and teachers are migrating every minute into the state some states are losing those who have migrated to Lagos.

He explained that there is no basis to lump all states into one category for the benefit of drawing from the funds of the UBE as best results cannot be achieved through that arrangement.

The Governor emphasized that the rule should allow States to use the funds to employ additional teachers in instances where the State is losing the services of its teaching staff while for those who believe that their greatest needs lie in bolstering the numbers of pupils available for schooling, the fund can be channeled to providing breakfast for the children.

He reiterated that the law should also permit States with needs for providing uniforms for pupils to do so with the funds, stressing that each state should be allowed to use the funds to address areas where the shoe pinches most.

Governor Fashola added that currently the time frame from one budget period to another in terms of projects for UBE programme is inadequate, as this has resulted in some states having buildings which they do not need and emphasized that consideration should be taken of the fact that schools can only be built during dry season.

The Governor also said the investment which the State is making into education is very necessary because the solution to the problem of the nation is not in terms of what can be done now but in terms of how to secure the future by laying a solid educational foundation.

He said one clear responsibility of the present administration is to build a sustainable future by putting in place a very solid primary educational system.

He added that development can only evolve when knowledge is imparted which leads to acquisition of knowledge, adding that only a skilled person can be productive with productivity ultimately leading to prosperity.

He said very soon age will catch up with all those in the present generation, making them dependent on others who are the young ones being trained now, adding that: ”if we do not empower them with skills, we will not only endanger ourselves but them”.

“We owe it a responsibility to give our children better education than we got. I am ready to work and collaborate with anybody who is willing to take education to the next level. The States just need to take their responsibilities more seriously as the engine of development”, he added.

He said if Nigeria is to be taken seriously; the provision of basic education should be a minimum standard which should be present as expected under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

He added that due to the educational standard prevalent in the country, Nigeria is unconsciously building willing refuges students who travel abroad to further their education but who are reluctant to return to the country.

Governor Fashola added that the last education summit of Lagos was aimed at charting a roadmap for sustainable development of education in the State.

While underscoring the allusion made to the high population of Lagos by the Chairman of the Board of UBE, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Governor Fashola said it is only through an accurate determination of the population figure that planning can be successful.

He said Government must be able to say how many pupils are in schools at any particular point and how many are of school age as failure to do this would only result in “running in circles and firefighting which cannot be sustainable”.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Board of UBE, Professor Tunde Adeniran said the team was at the Governor’s office to brief him on the outcome of the interactive session held by members of the national body with stakeholders in Lagos.

He added that the board has noted the dedication which Lagos is paying to basic education and urged the state to take with all seriousness, its ability to access the funds of UBE for the benefit of education at that level.

He added that in some areas visited, certain facilities are missing due to the high population figure of Lagos, advising that serious networking should be undertaken among the Federal, States and Local Governments on the issue.

Professor Adeniran also sought the assistance of the State in taking the issue of reforms at the UBE to the National Economic Council where such reforms can be effected with the support of other members.

He added that the board believes that since Lagos plays host to many nationalities, if it gets the process of managing primary education right in Lagos, then it could be done right nationally.