Citizens Urge anti-graft agencies to investigate missing UBEC school projects

Nigerian Citizens are calling for the investigation of abandoned and untraceable UBEC school projects in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Nassarawa state.
The call was prompted by the awareness drawn by the progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, towards the DailyTrust Report on “N311m UBEC projects in ruins across Abuja, Nasarawa…”

In Abuja, via the Wednesday Program- Public Conscience on Radio, PRIMORG created a phone-in platform to accommodate various complaints and commendations from Nigerians regarding the present state of public schools.

A caller, Mr. Paul Chubuike Ameachi, from Lokogoma, who lauded PRIMORG for its efforts in addressing key societal issues affecting the masses, reiterated the need for government to take the whistleblowers’ policy seriously and also establish the capital punishment policy to tackle delay in passing judgements.

Another caller, who simply called himself Idris from Gwarimpa, urged all Nigerians to speak out against the corruption, stressing that aside FCT, schools in other local government areas are also suffering similar fates.

Engr. Femi in Kubwa, said “It’s pathetic that we don’t have a stewardship mentality in this country, and EFCC and co. rather be chasing shadows than chasing things that count…the governments just give out money and look the other way.”

He challenged the anti-corruption agencies to visit all the glaring evidence made available by the media and ensure they blacklist the names and companies of the defaulters.

Mr. Paulinus from Kubwa, suggested that those found guilty of syphoning the school funds be made to spend up to 60years in prison while their properties confiscated.

On his part, Yomi from Gwarimpa, said the anti-graft agencies are not likely to act on these exposures, based on some pending petitions that haven’t been given any attention.

From Lugbe, Ambassador Ade phoned to lament that the parents and teachers are completely “Helpless” in reporting and getting results, adding that victims are left on their own in such cases.

Gbenga called to say that the states should also key into the anti-graft war, that the fight is only been done in the central, adding that civil servants also make the fight difficult.

Onyeka from Gwagwalada requested that the government should look into some primary schools in Gwagalada that collect fees unaccounted for.

Another caller, Sheriff noted that the EFCC is too centralized, advising that it needs to be decentralized to the barest minimum, even down to the local government level.

Ojo from Dutse said PRIMORG’s platform can be utilized by citizens in exposing abandoned school projects, also stressing that no attention would be given public schools because children of politicians and top public servants don’t attend.

On the contrary, Abubakar from Gwagwalada gave kudos to the authorities in charge of government primary schools, revealing that most without barricades are getting fenced for security purposes. However, he called on the authorities to provide toilet facilities and rehabilitate the buildings.

John also commended the LEA in Kwali for working on the school, but demanded answers on the PTA fees paid and haven’t been properly deployed as claimed by the school officials.

A lady who called in from Pape, Mrs. Ruth, said her son who attends LEA primary school in Pape at the front of old police station which has no fence and there was a time the children were seating on the floor.\

She added N18 thousand is paid to enroll one’s child which includes PTA fees as the burdens of some infrastructure development lies on the parents and teachers.