DELTA APPROVES N1.5BN 2019 UBE COUNTERPART FUND

 Delta State Executive Council on Tuesday approved the release of N1.5 billion counterpart fund to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the funding of primary education in the state for the year 2019.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this known while briefing the press on the outcome of the Council’s meeting presided over by the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in Asaba.

Aniagwu, who was joined by his Youth Development counterpart, Mr Ifeanyi Egwuyenga, said Delta was the most consistent state in the payment of the UBEC counterpart fund because of the importance government attached to education and the resolve that Deltans should have the best of every positive development in the country.

The Information Commissioner stated that due to the influx of people to Delta and Asaba in particular because of the peaceful and progressive nature of the state, Exco approved the establishment of one new primary school and a secondary school in the Asaba metropolis.

While recalling that many schools were established during the first tenure of Governor Okowa, Aniagwu said a Project Monitoring Unit was approved by Exco to ensure that projects were executed to specifications and delivered on schedule.
He added that Exco also approved a review of the contract for the construction of Igbide-Irri internal roads.

Aniagwu decried the deplorable state of federal roads in the state, and urged the Federal Government to speedily intervene in the reconstruction of the roads.

The Commissioner said in addition, Exco approved the 2020 Work-Plan for the Job Creation Office, pointing out that the Directorate of Youth Development would collaborate with the Ministries,  Departments and Agencies to ensure meaningful engagement of youths in the next four years.

According to Aniagwu, Exco also approved that all markets constructed by the state government should be handed over to local government councils for management.
For his part, Youth Development Commissioner, Ifeanyi Egwuyenga, said Governor Okowa wanted collaboration across MDAs to ensure the effectiveness of existing youth development programmes and the opening of more frontiers for the youth to be engaged.

Egwunyenga said Exco agreed that there was a need to raise the bar for  entrepreneurial opportunities and to look critically into the mindset and value orientation of youths.

Also at the briefing was the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifejika.