Executive Chairman, Delta State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon Samuel Mariere
says 90 percent of all projects approved by the Procurement Department for the present cycle have been completed, and that all the contractors involved, are duly paid through official channels.
Hon Mariere who made this known in Asaba during interactive session with newsmen, said over two hundred various projects valued about 7 billion naira had been awarded, with many completed, and several others at various stages of completion.
He described as false and malicious the allegations that contractors are being compelled to pay monies ranging from one hundred thousand naira to three hundred thousand naira depending on the negotiating powers of each contractor and the value of the contract.
Hon Mariere denied that monies were collected by staff of the Department of Planning Research and Statistics and remitted to him through some named individuals.
“Payments are processed strictly by due process, following verification, certification, and established financial controls.No Gratuities to Officials: No gratuity in any form—financial or otherwise—was paid to me or to any member of Delta-SUBEB leadership in connection with project award, certification, or payment.I have taken time to meet with all contractors, staffs of the Department of Physical Planning and General Staffs at the D-SUBEB headquarters and saw no proof of any unauthorized or illegally collected fund outside the Bills of Quantities as agreed with contractors”, he clarified.
The Delta State SUBEB Chairman insisted that his leadership operates on a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, consistent with the Delta State Government’s accountability drive and the broader objectives of the UBEC framework.
He started further, ”Our processes are governed by the Federal Procurement Laws. Documentation shows competitive tendering, bid evaluations, due-diligence checks, and formal contract awards. The Procurement Department reports law-compliant procedures and ongoing performance monitoring to keep delivery on spec and on time”
On the achievements recorded since the inception of the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State SUBEB Chairman hinted that 821,827 learners had been enrolled across public basic schools in Delta State, disclosing that plans were ongoing to bring back education Marshalls to ensure that children of school age are in school.
Continuing, he said, ”Direct Beneficiaries of D-SUBEB Interventions: 507,050 learners—62% of the enrolled population—benefited from our classrooms, learning materials, teacher support, and welfare facilities this quarter. Teacher Professional Development (Quality of Teaching)Total Teachers Trained: 5,511 teachers.Training Plan Execution: 10 out of 16 planned programmes implemented—63% completion within the quarter”.
Hon Mariere revealed that needs assessment of primary schools and Basic 1,2 and 3 in areas of manpower and infrastructure were being carried out for state government intervention.
The Delta State SUBEB Chairman said 162 new classrooms had been built, 491 classrooms repaired and restored to usability with 22 new perimeter block walls and five gatehouses.
”Sanitation & Water: 164 VIP toilets constructed; additional toilet renovations; 5 solar-powered boreholes provided (3,000-litre each) and others rehabilitated.Teacher Accommodation & Boarding: 10 staff quarters delivered; a new refectory; conversion of a story building into a hostel with toilets; 50 double-bunk beds and 50 foams for boarding support.Furniture: 16,834 classroom furniture units supplied; 4,000 units maintained to extend lifespan”
”Learning Resources & Digital EnablementTextbooks: 167,707 textbooks distributed (80,907 via UBEC; 86,800 via D-SUBEB/state resources).Devices & Boards: 1,843 tablets, 28 laptops, 13 desktops, and 64 interactive boards deployed.Teaching Aids: 10,000 charts/posters/counters/toys distributed for stronger early-grade literacy and numeracy.Targeting Equity”
He hinted that special attention was being giving to rural, riverine, and hard-to-reach schools in learning materials and manpower distribution and supervision with 218 community teachers deployed to underserved areas to stabilize teaching supply and remediate learning gaps.
Hon Mariere unveiled plans by the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to implement special allowance for rural and community teachers
Sam Erhunmwunsee, Radio Nigeria Asaba
