The Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije has stated that the federal government should have no business funding basic education but it should be the sole responsibility of state governments.

Senator Chukwumerije who led members of his committee to the Ministry of Education said playing the big brother role over the states affairs violates the concept of true federalism.

The committee expressed dissatisfaction over mass failures experienced in examinations.

The committee demanded a detailed account of the ministry’s budget spending on travels and projects.

The committee led by its chairman, has gone round the parastatals under the Ministry of Education and in a meeting with the Minister of Education, the committee demanded in detail, the ministry’s 2010/2011 budget and its projects executed so far.

In spite of huge figures, the Minister, Prof. Ruqayya Rufai explained that the 2011 fiscal year had been a difficult one owing to inadequate fund release to implement the budget.

The Minister also noted that the 2011 budget was only funded 67percent which is evident in the drastic reduction on meal subsidy and overhead cost of unity colleges.