Yobe debunks Sahara Reporter’s story alleging zero expenditure on basic education

Story by Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu 

Yobe State Government has debunked a recent publication by Sahara Reporters, alleging zero expenditure on basic education while ₦3.8bn was expended on sitting allowance and construction of presidential chalets in the state.

A press statement signed and released by Mamman Mohammed, DG Press and Media Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni, said journalism is no doubt a noble profession that seeks to inform and educate the public objectively, and obviously, a veritable tool that promotes accountability in governance for the common good of the people.

“However, it becomes a poison when wrongly used to parade deliberate lies and falsehood, with flagrant abuse to its laid down ethics.

According to the statement, “Some hours ago, Sahara Reporters in its usual style, published a story alleging zero expenditure on basic education while ₦3.8bn was expended on sitting allowance and construction of presidential chalets in Yobe state.

He said in an attempt to garnish the falsehood, a document was deliberately published in tiny and almost unreadable characters that are very unfriendly and discouraging for readers to read the content.

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Mamman revealed that for those who took the pain to thoroughly scan the document, it showed the sitting allowance and construction expenditure reflected, while the alleged zero expenditure on basic education expenditure is conspicuously missing and not reflected for the reader to make an independent comparison, assessment and judgment.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the state government had in the last three quarters of the year expended over ₦3bn on the procurement of instructional materials, rehabilitation of classrooms and hostels in over ten schools.

“The sum of over ₦1.5bn was paid for tuition and registration fees while another ₦3.5bn was paid to UBEC as counterpart funds to mention but a few.

“Using one’s common sense of judgment, zero expenditure on basic education suggests that all schools in the state are closed.

“In contrast to the unholy suggestion by the publication, schools across Yobe State have indeed recorded an increase in enrolment generally and running with great improvement,” the statement added.

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