N283m padded exam budget, Obaseki orders investigation

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has vowed to unmask the people behind the sum of two hundred and eighty million naira (N283 million) padded into the budget for the conduct of first school leaving certificate examination in the state just as he has ordered full scale investigation to the scandal.

Embarrassed by the scandal, governor Obaseki noted that the sum of N283 million padded into the budget for the recent examination across the state eventually conducted at the cost of N30 million was inflated by sum of N253 million.

Decision to commence immediate investigation on those who committed the atrocity was taken at the weekly State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held at Government House on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 in Benin City and was made known by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu.

Hon. Ohonbamu said “A memo was sent to the governor for the conduct of the examination and N283 million was earmarked for the examination which eventually cost N30 million, and the governor is not comfortable with this. He has directed that those responsible for the disparity be identified and brought to book.

“Other resolutions reached at the Executive Council meeting was the review of the law setting up the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to keep pace with current realities in the basic education sub-sector.”

He explained that the Obaseki-led administration places high premium on basic education which is the foundation of the education system and was committed to reorganizing it to deliver quality education to the state.

The commissioner also hinted that the Council agreed that the distribution of treated mosquito nets be flagged off in the state on Friday, August 11, 2017, and urged all Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants to participate in driving the exercise.