…warns against illegal levies

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue State Government on Monday launched a N150 million School Grant Scheme aimed at improving the running of public schools across the state, while also distributing motorcycles to Quality Assurance Officers in the 23 Local Government Areas to strengthen monitoring and supervision in rural communities.

The event, held at the headquarters of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, in Makurdi, was described by stakeholders as another major step in the ongoing education reforms of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.

Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba, said the School Grant Initiative was a “bold and visionary intervention” designed to address operational challenges confronting schools across the state.

According to her, the state government has released N150 million under the scheme to support school administrators. “Each Headmaster and Principal will receive N50,000 monthly to cater for stationery, continuous assessments, first aid materials, utilities and minor maintenance in schools,” she stated.

Dr. Adagba said the programme further demonstrated government’s commitment to free and compulsory basic education, warning that any school head found collecting unauthorized levies from pupils or parents would be sanctioned.

“Government is determined to ensure that education remains accessible to every child, and any Headmaster or Principal imposing illegal levies will face disciplinary action,” she warned.

Flagging off the programme on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Sam Ode, described education as the “greatest investment” any government could make adding that the initiative would not only improve school administration and learning conditions but also enhance effective monitoring of schools, especially in rural areas, through the provision of motorcycles to Quality Assurance Officers.

“This programme aligns with the World Bank-supported HOPE Education Grant and places Benue among leading states driving meaningful education reforms,” he said.

In separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu, and the UBEC State Coordinator, Mr. Idzi Emmanuel, lauded Governor Alia for prioritizing the education sector.

They also commended the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and SUBEB, noting that the partnership had continued to yield impactful reforms in the state’s basic education system.

The highlight of the ceremony was the symbolic presentation of school grant cheques to RCM Primary School, Ihugh in Vandeikya Local Government Area, UBE JSS Walomayo in Makurdi and St. Francis Primary School, Otukpo, representing the three senatorial zones of the state. Motorcycles were also handed over to Coordinating Education Secretaries on behalf of Quality Assurance Officers across the state.