The Executive Chairman of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi has stated the preparation of the state government to commence the implementation of 2023 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention projects.
Prof. Akinwumi gave the information in Ado Ekiti during the Bid opening ceremony in anticipation of the commencement of the 2023 UBEC/ SUBEB Intervention projects aiming at improving the infrastructural development of public primary schools across the state.
The chairman lauded the unprecedented achievements of the state governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji to providing enabling environment for development of basic education sector.
He described the occasion as another remarkable efforts of the governor in turning around of infrastructures in the state’s public primary schools in order to further actualize the vision of providing conducive teaching and learning environment in the state’s public primary schools.
Prof. Akinwumi said that apart from payment of counterpart fund of over N1.3 billion for execution of the projects, the governor has assured the readiness to approve payment of counterpart fund for the 2024 (UBEC/ SUBEB) intervention projects
He added that the present administration has continued to prioritize the welfare of teachers and development of schools’ infrastructures as evident in payment of running grants to schools, procurement and distribution of instructional materials, training and retraining of teachers, payment of car and housing loans to teachers and elevation of degree holding teachers from GL.15 to GL.16 among other record breaking achievements.
Prof. Akinwumi who described the Bid opening ceremony as further manifestation of the state government’s collaboration with UBEC for the advancement of basic education, said that due process was strictly followed as prescribed by Bureau of Public Procurement and UBEC before inviting the contractors for tenders resulting in recipients of bid proposals from many reputable registered contractors.
He assured the participating companies in the tender process of a level playing ground but sternly warned against violation of contract agreement, stressing that any contractor that failed to work according to specifications would be blacklisted and made to refund the money collected.
The SUBEB boss clearly stated that no contractor with history of abandoned project, low turnover or invalid tax clearance, low financial capability, irrelevant nature of business, fake registration or irreputable records would be considered for award of contract by Ekiti SUBEB.
Prof. Akinwumi reiterated the resolve of the state government to pay the contractors in full after successful completion of their contracts and therefore called for more support of governor Oyebanji’s administration.
Highlights of the ceremony include symbolic bid opening by one of the contractors, opening of bid by the Executive Chairman, SUBEB Commissioners, the management team and other dignitaries.
Among the job descriptions for the 2023 UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects are construction of blocks of classrooms, water system toilets with deep well, overhead tank and generator, procurement of furniture items for teachers and pupils, perimeter fencing of school premises, etc.