Governor Alex Otti of Abia State will on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 flag off the construction of the 30 kilometers Arochukwu-Ndiokereke-Ozuabam road. Similarly, the governor will on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 commission the construction of the 11.5 kilometers Nunya -Eluama-Isuikwuato road....CONTINUE READING
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu who disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, said the massive road construction by the Otti’s administration is line with governor’s resolve to link up all parts of the state through a good road network.
His word, “This is in keeping with the state government’s strategic road infrastructure development Initiative. Of course, roads are serious enablers for a good business environment and the state government will not relent in ensuring that roads in the state are put in very good motorable condition”.
Kanu also announced that the state government has fixed Saturday, March 23, 2024 for the monthly sanitation exercise for this month, adding that that the last Saturday of the month would be Easter Saturday, hence the need to clean up the environment ahead of Easter .
The Abia information commissioner revealed that the State Executive Council has approved the payment of bursary awards to Abia State indigenes in Law Schools across the nation. He added that the gesture is being done in keeping with the high premium the state government placed on education.
According to him, the state government has approved the renovation and retrofitting of 170 primary schools which, he added, will translate to 10 primary schools per LGA and that this is in addition to the six model schools that were already being renovated including the 51 secondary schools that have also been approved for renovation.
This, he pointed out; translates to three schools per LGA across the state.
The governor declared, “The schools will have some features that make them modern schools. They would have staff Quarters, Caretakers house, the Head teacher’s house, and a gate house. The primary schools, of course, would have Nurseries. This again is in keeping with the governor’s promise to Abians”.
Kanu announced with regret that WAEC has delisted some schools in Abia over examination malpractices, adding that most of the schools are private schools.
According to the Commissioner, though the government is not happy over the development, the action is however in line with the policy of the present administration to do things right.
In her comment, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche, explained that some special centres were once identified and closed down when Governor Alex Otti took over the reins of leadership of Abia State, stressing that the government will not tolerate any form of exam malpractice in its education system.
He said, “You remember there was a time we started checking private schools and closed down those that did not meet the required standards. Some of them are special centres and we know that.
“Some of those special centres have been identified by WAEC and we’re not happy about that. So, what they have done was to first warn, and then threaten the affected schools with sanctions including the withdrawal of their license to operate.
“Remember that some CBT centres were shut down in Aba and they were shut down because of the issue of examination malpractices. We don’t want Abia to be known as a centre for examination malpractices. However, we’ve been able to reopen the innocent ones”.
Prof. Uche used the opportunity to disclose that a total of N62 million has been set apart for the payment of the bursary award, saying that it was based on the request of the students asking for help following the increase in school fees for law students “which the governor graciously approved”.
