Edo Govt. Up-to-date in payment of Matching Funds for UBEC – Attorney General, Iyamu

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Hon. Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), has said that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government has always prioritized payment of counterpart funds and is up-to-date in its payment of matching funds for Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The Attorney General who made the clarification in a reply to a letter written by the Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), maintained that: “The government of Edo State is quite aware of its obligations and commitment towards the education of its citizens and in fact initiated the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EDOBEST) program which is a quality education initiative unique in its scope and content, which has positioned the state in the forefront of national education standards and even meets and exceeds international best practice criteria in the area.”

Iyamu’s clarification follows an advisory issued by the Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), urging the Edo State Government to redirect funds budgeted for other sectors of the State to pay counterpart funds for basic education.

The Attorney General who commended SERAP for its commitment to the promotion of transparency and socio-economic rights in Nigeria, emphasized that Edo State Government runs an open-data government portal where all information regarding the activities of government are published and made accessible to the people of the State as well as the general public.

“We reiterate that the Edo State Government is not in arrears of its matching grants for UBEC. Note also that the Edo State Government has no objection or opposition to financial transparency in governance, which it currently practices under and by virtue of its own organs and laws,” Iyamu said.

He however added that “the State government needs no reminder of its obligations in providing free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.”

He assured that the Obaseki administration “will continue to pursue the attainment of an education system worthy of our State and people, and values all constructive interventions directed towards good governance and transparency and would have no objections to partnering with well-meaning persons and organizations in achieving this purpose.”

Edo State has remained a reference point in basic education within and outside Nigeria since the unveiling of EDOBEST by the Obaseki-led government.

Several sub-national governments such as Lagos State and national governments have visited Edo to understudy the initiative for onward replication in their respective domains.

The technology-driven teaching method and the revamped learning environments in public schools have continued to attract pupils to schools, leading to a steady increase in the number of children enrolling in the State’s public schools.

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