The Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) says it has returned 224, 879 out-of-school children and Almajiris to schools through Better Education Service Delivery for All (BASDA) from 2019 to-date.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NSUBEB Chairman Sai’du Ibrahim disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Minna, the state capital.
He said that the board paid N400 million as outstanding four months BASDA arrears to 400 local facilitators targeted at addressing issues affecting out-of-school children in the state.
Ibrahim said that 87 technical staff of the board were trained to build their capacity on effective monitoring for better performance as well as improve basic education in the state.
Speaking further, the NSUBEB Chairman said the board successfully paid outstanding July salaries of teachers in Gbako and Shiroro local government areas, adding that the board was not owing any teacher in the state.
According to him, Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of the Niger State approved payment of more than N2 billion as 2019, 2020 and 2021 backlog of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
The board recently established 24 additional junior secondary schools across the three senatorial district and three primary schools, procured and distribute weekly registers, diary, admission registers and chalk for schools across the state, he revealed.
The board equally reintroduced monthly payment of imprest to education secretaries and recruited teachers to fill the manpower gaps in some local government areas, plans were underway to establish modern science primary schools starting with four local government areas as pilot.
Ibrahim disclosed that some staff of the board would be sent to Sokoto State to learn how to successfully implement the project.
He said that the board would continue to prioritise welfare of staff through training and re-training for better performance, adding that all pending issues bordering the board had been addressed.
While commending Gov. Bello for providing enabling environment for the board to operate, Ibrahim assured that the board would prioritise effective monitoring and supervision of schools in 2023.
