Enugu orders closure of 83 private schools
By Tony Edike
ENUGU—Enugu State Government, weekend, ordered the closure of 83 privately-owned secondary, primary and nursery schools in the state for failing to meet the minimum standard set for their operations.
The government has also approved the establishment of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency to coordinate all the activities of primary healthcare services in the state.
State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, who disclosed this at the end of a meeting of the State Executive Council, explained that the council took the decision on the schools to ensure that uniform standards were maintained in schools in the state and also ensure that children were given qualitative education.
He added that the Ministry of Education would soon furnish the public with the names of the affected schools.
Ugwoke said the council had also approved the reactivation of inter-house sports competitions in public secondary schools in the state.
This, according to the commissioner, will promote teamwork and friendship among students and create the spirit of competition and discovery of talents.
The government spokesman noted that about 305 secondary schools in the state would be involved in the exercise and that the council had approved the sum of N48,903,400 per annum for the programme, with each school receiving average of about N200,000 for the organization of successful inter-house competition.
On the new health agency, Ugwoke stated that the body when established, would address the gaps existing in the District Health System and problems occasioned by the fragmentation of healthcare delivery system in the state.
He said it would also enable the state leverage resources from the proposed National Primary Health Care Development Fund, adding that the council had directed the relevant ministry to prepare all the needed legal documents and processes and forward same to the State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.
He further disclosed that the government had awarded a contract worth over N574.3 million for the completion of work at the State Medical Diagnostic Centre.
He said the contract originally awarded to Silhonettes AB + T Turnkey in 2009 was terminated in 2010 for non-performance, noting that it was now re-awarded to Turner Construction Nigeria Limited.
