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.