The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered an immediate investigation into the N283m allegedly padded budget for the conduct of First School Leaving Certificate examination in the state.
The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Paul Ohonbamu, disclosed this during the weekly State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
According to him, the governor has vowed to prosecute all those who are involved in the presentation of the padded budget when the examination was eventually conducted at the cost of N30m.
“A memo was sent to the governor for the conduct of the examination and N283m was earmarked for the examination which eventually cost N30; the governor is not comfortable with this. He has directed that those responsible for the disparity be identified and brought to book.”
Mr Ohonbamu hinted that the meeting reviewed the law setting up the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to keep pace with current realities in the basic education sub-sector.
He noted that Obaseki’s administration places a high premium on basic education – the foundation of the education system – and is committed to reorganising it to deliver quality education to the state.
The commissioner said that Council has also agreed that the distribution of treated mosquito nets be flagged off in the state on Friday, August 11.
