Minister queries low utilisation of ICT materials by ministry

THE Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, has criticised staff of the ministry managing the ICT project under the World Bank assisted Science Technology Education-Basic Project (STEP_B) in the country for low utilisation of computer facilities made available to them.He has, therefore, promised to liaise with the appropriate authorities in the ministry to ensure that staff of the ministry were properly deployed to areas where they would be useful.The minister, who read the riot act when he paid a visit to the national secretariat, Step B project under the control of the ministry over the week in Abuja, decried the attitude of workers. He said unless there was attitudinal change among workers, Nigeria would not experience the desired progress.According to him, a centre which was well equipped with 30 computers in each of the two classrooms, 50 teachers, four information and communication technology (ICT) consultants and train 150 students every year should be able to generate revenue to fund its activities rather than depend on the government and the World Bank.He however queried the centre's project manager for the Step B Project, Mr. Grace Tarkhi for paying the four ICT consultants the whooping sum of N800, 000 each per month for an 8 weeks training adding that the centre must cut down its cost to function effectively and to overcome the challenges of funds. He said that the management of the centre should brace up and work out programmes to generate revenue for the centre as well as increase the number of personnel it trains every year.'It is unfortunate that most of the facilities at the centre are not being fully utilised as it should be. You must not waste N800, 000 on monthly basis on ITC consultants coming from out the FCT,' he said.Fielding questions from newsmen, the minister said that for the centre to succeed and achieve its goals, the attitude of the staff of the ministry deplored to the centre must change adding that it was only the responsibility of the government to work towards moving the country forward but the responsibility of every Nigerian as often interpreted by Nigerians.'I will direct the permanent secretary to checkmate the affairs of the centre and the ministry's staff deplored to the centre for certain steps to be taken to ensure that things are done the right way.'Asked if that implied rolling of heads, Wike said that there was nothing like rolling of the heads, asking: 'Why are you always interested in rolling of heads' We have made our points that what is right should always be done. We are not murderers here, what we are saying is that people should really pay. If you talk of heads rolling, you don't know whose heads will roll first.
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