By Onozure Dania

Port Harcourt—Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has called for the amendment of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Act to accommodate the funding of senior secondary education across the country.

Speaking, yesterday,  at the Government House,  Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit by House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, Wike also announced that Rivers State will flag off the total rehabilitation of 174 primary schools in the state.

Wike said rather than  establish  another commission to cater for the infrastructural needs of senior secondary schools, UBEC should be empowered by law to handle such issues as it will be more economical  for the country.

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike

He said: “The amendment of the UBEC Act to accomodate senior secondary education  was started by the last administration, but it was not concluded. I, therefore,  call for the amendment of the UBEC Act to ensure that the commission undertakes the funding  of senior secondary education.”

The governor said that his administration is re-positioning basic education  to secure the future of the state.

He regretted that though some states claim they have made primary education their top priority, it was worrisome that such states  leave  their UBEC funds un-accessed.

The governor informed  the committee that the state governmemt  had written  to the Federal Ministry of Education  to take over two federal schools in Ogu/Bolo and Aluu, which have  been overgrown by weeds after  they were completed by the Jonathan administration.

Earlier, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, Mr Zakari Mohamned, said Rivers State was one of the top six states to access UBEC funds for the development of basic education.

He said the committee was in the state to assess the utilisation of UBEC funds for the development  of  key projects in the sub-sector.