 |
| The project. |
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako has commissioned school projects executed by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) with a renewed commitment to ensuring that he leaves the educational sector as one of the best in the country.
Governor Lalong who commissioned the classrooms and
Educational Resource Hall at the Model primary school in Shehe, Shinko Rayfield
and Obasanjo Model primary school Hwolshe respectively, said his administration
remains committed to upgrading all school infrastructure and ensuring that both
the teachers and students have a great learning experience.
He said to ensure this, Government has consistently
provided counterpart funding to enable the Plateau State Universal Basic
Education Board access equivalent amount of Matching Grants from the Universal
Basic Education Commission for nine years spanning from 2013 to 2021. So far, a
total of over N9.8 billion was provided by the State Government as counterpart
funding while about N16.7 billion was accessed and utilized in transforming the
educational fortunes of our children in the Basic Education sub-sector.
The Governor said "This investment has led to the
massive infrastructural development within the sector that is today noticed
across the State. A total of 1,528 projects across the State ranging from
renovation and construction of classrooms; examination halls; VIP Toilets; and
Motorized Boreholes were awarded while about 127,000 Plastic furniture were
procured and distributed across the 17 LGEAs. The interventions have equally
brought about significant improvement in education delivery as well as a rise
in school enrollment, literacy and numeracy skills among our learners. No
wonder the Universal Learning Solutions Initiative reported a 65% increase in
literacy level in lower Public Primary school learners in the State this year
alone. So far, over ten thousand teachers from the Early Child Care Development
Education, Primary and Junior Secondary Schools have been trained to further
raise the literacy skills of the teaching population of our schools".
Chairman of the Plateau State Universal Basic
Education Board Prof. Mathew Sule appreciated the Governor for his commitment
and passion for education which he said has led to phenomenal transformation of
schools and improvement in enrollment and student performance.
He said in order to meet the human capital
requirement, the Government approved the recruitment of four thousand eight
hundred and fifty Ad-hoc teachers and deployed them to basic education schools
across the State. Government through the Board is also in the process of
recruiting additional set of Ad-hoc teachers in collaboration with Local
Government Councils.
He said in the area of training and welfare of
teachers, the Lalong Government has also sustained its support to the Plateau
State Universal Basic Education Board to carry out Capacity Development Programmes
both locally and outside the shores of this country.
He recalled that recently, the Governor also gave approval for the release of bag-log of promotion of Public Primary school teachers as part of efforts at developing a viable educational sector in the State.
In another development, the Governor has also commissioned the first Computerized Vehicle Inspection Center in Plateau State.
Performing the event, the Governor said the project is
aimed at improving the quality of motor vehicles leading to preservation of
human lives and enhancing safer roads for sustainable development.
He said "With the increasing volume of traffic in
the State due to restored peace and stability, there is the need to ensure that
vehicles plying our roads are roadworthy and safe for the transportation of
passengers, goods and services. I am particularly happy that the establishment
of this computerized centre though coming behind schedule is finally fulfilled.
We can never over-emphasize the need for ensuring that vehicles plying our
roads are in good health just as the drivers who are driving them. According to
statistics by the FRSC and other organisations, the high level of accidents on
Nigerian roads is largely associated with the conditions of the vehicles as
much as it is with the conduct of the drivers. We are aware that many vehicles
which should ordinarily not be seen on the roads are constantly engaged in
carrying passengers and goods. Without checking this menace, we will continue
to witness the wanton loss of lives and properties in accidents that are
preventable".
He implored all agencies of Government and security
services in the State to support this project by collaborating with the Vehicle
Inspection Service to ensure the success of this commendable project.
He also directed all Government MDAs and Local
Governments to submit all official vehicles to the computerized inspection as a
way of setting the pace for private and commercial vehicles to follow. He
stated that when all the centres are activated across the State, enforcement
and compliance will be total.
Commissioner for Transport Muhammad Muhammad Abubakar
said with proper and sustainable enforcement, this project can generate a
robust database which can be used for research, planning and development of the
transport sector in the State and the Country at large.
He disclosed that vehicles which do not pass the test
at this computerized centre will require further checks to bring them in tune
with the standards which guarantee safety of both the drivers and the
passengers. The checks will also enable vehicle owners to prevent issues that
could eventually lead to breakdowns and accidents if not addressed on time.
He called on all citizens of the State particularly
the Transport Stakeholders such as National Union of Road Transport Workers
(NURTW); National Association of Road transport Owners (NARTO); Road Transport
Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) among others to give maximum
cooperation and ensure that we work together to save lives and properties by
obliging full compliance in order to maintain safety standards in the State.
Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service
Dashe Arlat said the Governor has directed that the project be fully integrated
on the State Central Billing System (CBS) to ensure transparency and
accountability because apart from the Safety aspect, this laudable project is
also a source of generating Internal Revenue for the State and will also
provide employment for our teeming youths thereby reducing unemployment.
He said there are no exemptions will be permitted as
every vehicle owner who wishes to ply Plateau roads will be required to subject
his vehicle for computerized inspection.
Representatives of Transport Unions and the FRSC also gave their commitment to supporting the project.
Chief Executive Officer of Temple SYC Group Limited,
Prince Segun Obayendo said the project which is a Public Private Partnership
underscores the collaboration between the Government and private sector in
finding solutions to challenges of development.
This he said closes the gap because it is a fact that
Government does not have unlimited resources to provide every service for its
citizenry and as such, this project will fill the funding gap for government
and also ensure efficient service.
A demonstration of the vehicle inspection was carried
out before the Governor.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of Precious Eze's Blog or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!