GROUPS THREATENED TO SUES OKOWA OVER ALLEGED POOR PRIMARY SCHOOL FUNDING

Following continue refusal to properly funds Delta Public Primary Schools despite several calls on the present administration to do the needful, the groups known as Anti-Corruption Advocacy, Accountability Project, Socio-Economic Rights has threatened to sued Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, over alleged poor funding of primary education in the state.

The groups which have concluded plans to approach a competent jurisdiction court will amongst other issues demanding the court to compel Gov. Okowa to ""explain the disparity between budgetary allocations to primary education and the reality that several of the about 1,124 primary schools across the state are in a shambles, and with very poor teaching facilities.”"

The Co-ordinator of the groups Chief Oghenevwogaga Diemuku JP+, said the court action became necessary, following Okowa’s refusal to oblige its Freedom of Information request for detailed information on how much his administration had spent on primary education in the state since he became Governor of the State since 2015 till date. added that the demand is to know how the state Government is spending the huge resources being allocated for education annually.

Speaking further, the coordinator said the FOI request was informed by the state of Delta Primary School Children learning without Desk under Dilapidated Building's, Pupils been sent home from school for being unable to pay some amount of money, Lack of teacher's Chairs & Tables, Lack of Provision of Learning Materials, Inadequate teacher's, Lack of proper supervision and poor funding of teacher's welfare.

The group said it was aware that since the present administration came on board led by Gov. Okowa had received over N10bn from Universal Basic Education Commission, apart from other funds from the Federal Government, yet Delta Primary School Pupils are being left behind and their future put in jeopardy.”

“These children are being short-changed and they deserve to know how much exactly the state Government spent between 2015 and 2021, on their education,” also to joined as defendants in the suit are the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board. “The refusal by the Governor, UBEC and SUBEB to respond to the group FOI requests can only be construed to mean denial of the information sought.

“The evidence of education deficit in the state is buttressed by the state of Delta Primary School Children learning without Desk under Dilapidated Buildings, Pupils been sent home from school for being unable to pay some amount of money, Lack of teacher's Chairs & Tables, Lack of Provision of Learning Materials, Inadequate teacher's, Lack of proper supervision and poor funding of teacher's welfare.