Edo PDP challenges Oshiomhole on alleged N1.5 billion desk contract scam

Source: pointblanknews.com

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has challenged the state government to publish the report of a panel that probed a N1.5 billion contract for the supply of desks to secondary schools a few years ago.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih threw the challenge Monday in Benin where he donated millions of naira worth of books to students of Ihongbe College, Benin City.

He recalled that a contract for the supply of 75,000 school desks was awarded to Abuja-based ITEX furniture by the Governor Oshiomhole for N1.5 billion during Prof. Ngozi Osarenren's tenure as Commissioner for Education

None of the desks have been sighted in any school in Edo State since then, remarked Orbih.

'One is forced to ask of what happened to that contract? Why are the desks not in the schools? I understand a panel was set up to find out if the contractor actually supplied the materials or not.

'In the interest of the Edo people, government should make public the panel report on that contract,' challenged the PDP chairman.

He continued, 'Government should put politics aside and address the problem facing the education sector in Edo State. Go round the secondary schools, you will see that the students don't have chairs, desks and teachers.

'Even the schools that were renovated don't have the necessary facilities to deliver content. Government should reduce expenses on frivolous travels and entertainment of guests and concentrate on the business of governance,' Orbih advised.

Principal of the school, Mrs Helen Oronsaye, lauded Orbih's philanthropy. She disclosed that many students in the school were indigent and therefore not able to afford notebooks and textbooks.

In March, Nigeria Academic and Authors Award (NAAA) conferred an award of excellence on Orbih for supporting the cause of education.

The PDP chairman had at the event promised to regularly support the NAAA by providing students in the state public schools with books.