By Miriam Humbe
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN has described corruption as a cancer that has negatively impacted the performance of the education sector.
Dr Aliyu made this known at a 3-day workshop organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training and research arm of ICPC for staff of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEBS) and Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB).
Demola Bakare, the Acting Director, Public Enlightenment and Education/Spokesperson for the Commission disclosed this in a statement signed on Wednesday.
The training, which began Tuesday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja was being organized to promote transparency and accountability in the management of basic education in Nigeria.
The ICPC Chairman, represented by Mrs. Grace Agha-Ibe said: ‘’The lower end of the education ladder has witnessed more of its impact, from enrolment, to the provision of textbooks and equipment, appointment and management of teachers, assessment of teaching and learning processes, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of schools, as well as monitoring of projects execution, tales of unpalatable experiences abound.
“Corruption is at the heart of these experiences, a huge chunk of which may be attributed to lack of transparency and accountability, and the direct and indirect impact of this on access to and quality of education cannot be overemphasized.’’
Speaking on the benefits that the participants would gain from the workshop, the ICPC boss said: “It is expected that the knowledge gathered from this workshop will help you discharge your duties more effectively, so that you do not run foul of the law but become more transparent and accountable in your dealings.
ACAN Provost, Prof. Olatunde Babawale said: “We believe that at the end of this workshop, the critical outcome of this training is the promotion of transparency and accountability in the Universal Basic Education Board and also develops skills in participants for safeguarding the workplace against corruption and fraud.”
Prof. Olatunde said that the purpose of enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of basic education was first to achieve our educational objectives and second was to ensure that we have quality service delivery.
Dr Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC expressed his excitement towards participants who had gathered from different states.
Bobboyi said: “To safeguard the future of Nigerians, we must impact positively on students, children who are the future of tomorrow”.
The Executive Secretary therefore said it was imperative that ‘’We do not fail in the discharge of our responsibilities as individual. If we do, we are not only failing in the moment, we are also jeopardizing the future.”
