THE Federal Government has accused some State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) of sabotaging its efforts to improve the quality of basic education across the country.The government has also observed that except over nine million children in the northern part of the country are granted access to basic education, the insecurity in that area will persist.The Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who stated the government's positionin Port Harcourt, noted that the Federal Government had recently discovered that some state basic education boards have not been disclosing to their state government grants received from the centre.To ensure transparency and accountability, he said the Federal Government would amend the SUBEB Act, which currently does not empower the central government to sanction any erring SUBEB.According to the minister, who stressed that basic education is not the responsibility of the Federal Government, its continual intervention, however, is aimed at ensuring that the country meets the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in education by 2015.Wike, who revealed that every state was entitled to a grant of N140 million this year, accused those whose SUBEBs have been unable to access the fund of lacking passion for basic education.'We don't run basic education. We are really supporting the states and there is need for total commitment from the states. It is easy for states to access SUBEB funds. If you don't use the fund that was given to you say late year, it will be difficult to access further funds,' he said.The minister said the Federal Government had discovered that some of the books it donated to states in the past were later sold to book vendors. He cautioned that anyone caught selling the ones recently distributed to primary schools across the country would be prosecuted.On efforts being made to improve the quality of education, the minister said government's on-going transformational agenda in this sector would begin to manifest within the next two years.According to him, the Federal Government is helping to provide infrastructure and training of teachers.He said most of the children involved in insurgency in the North do not have access to basic education.Wike explained that this situation would continue to poseserious security challenge in the country. To this end, he insisted that every Nigerian must be given access to education.On politics, the minister denied an allegation that his relationship with Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has turned sour due to their personal political ambitions ahead of 2015.The minister dismissed a claim that he was sent to Abuja to weaken his political influence. He cautioned that he still remained a political force to be reckoned with in Rivers State politics.
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