Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau and Perm. Sec Dr. Macjohn Nwaobialu, Contradicted Each Other While Defending Budget Before Senate

Minister of Education Minister, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobialu, contradicted each other during the ministry’s budget defence before the Senate Committee on Education.

While the Permanent Secretary blamed non-implementation of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as constituency projects in the ministry in 2014 on non-release of funds, the minister debunked the claim, saying over N5 billion was rather released but it only arrived late.

He, however, did not explain if the money was returned to the Ministry of Finance or not.

Shekarau assured that if the financial year in 2015 began in March, the projects would be duly implemented.

“The issue of the constituency projects and the MDG projects constitute one of the top priorities as far the MDG is concerned. And when I came on board when the year was almost more than half way, I did ask. All I know is that the MDG office does not release some funds directly to some institutions, not necessarily through the ministry. I cherish these constituency projects. “I want to assure this committee and the entire membership of the Senate that what we will do to ensure that constituency projects are realised, we shall do.

What I learnt was that it was advertised and went through all the processes. In fact, right now, the ministerial standard board had met, it was at the stage of the release of the contracts that we realized that the release of funds for capital projects was really not forthcoming. And we didn’t want to add to the liabilities but with the hope that the financial year is likely to move up to March, but we had to halt it,” he said. 

Source: Thisdaylive