The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) yesterday took a bold step towards transparency and accountability in executing its projects by publicly opening bids for the SUBEB/UBEC intervention fund from matching grants under the 1st to 4th quarter 2002 to 1st to 4th quarter 2003.
In a ceremony attended by contractors and representatives of regulatory bodies, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba, emphasized the Board’s commitment to transparency and accountability. She noted that Benue SUBEB was the only SUBEB that had announced the coordinates and locations of intended projects, proving transparency throughout the process.
Dr. Adagba stressed the need for contractors to ensure that all projects were executed to specifications and completed on time. She assured that the process would be the most transparent ever witnessed in Benue State. She commended the Governor of the State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, for his timely release of counterpart funding, which demonstrated his passion and zeal for development in the education sector and the entire State.
The Commissioner of Education and Knowledge Management, Rev. Frederick Ikyaan, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Agbo Ochekpe, highlighted the significance of the public opening of bids. He noted that it was a collective resolve to implement projects and policies with transparency, accountability, and adherence to the highest standards of quality and ethics.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Board and Management Staff, the Chairman House Committee on Education, Rt. Honourable Cephas Dyako, the UBEC State Coordinator, Mr. Idzi Baba, the UBEC Supervisor of Projects North Central Zone, Isah Yakubu, and representatives of the EFCC, ICPC, BPP, and the Nigerian Institute of Builders.
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In their separate remarks, the representatives of UBEC and financial institutions emphasized that standards must be maintained and that adequate sanctions would be imposed on contractors who do not perform according to set guidelines.
Responding on behalf of the contractors, Engr. Emmanuel Chia expressed gratitude to the Governor, the SUBEB Chairman, and all those involved. He prayed that the Board would fulfill its mandate of ensuring that only deserving contractors are awarded projects and that the process is carried out transparently as promised.
The highlight of the event was the symbolic opening of bids for matching grants under the 1st to 4th quarters of 2002 and 2003, marking a new beginning in transparency and accountability in executing SUBEB projects.
