- Moves To Harmonise Education Agencies
By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Government has approved the release of ₦2.9 billion for the payment of outstanding allowances owed to staff of Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM) and its College of Health Sciences.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Peter Egbodo, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Hyacinth Alia on Thursday.
According to Egbodo, the approval was prompted by recent agitations from the university staff over unpaid entitlements, which, if left unresolved, could have triggered industrial action and disrupted academic activities.
He explained that a committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Deborah Aber, with the Head of Service and other key officials as members, had engaged with all stakeholders and submitted a report that guided the Council’s decision. The commissioner said the move demonstrated the government’s resolve to sustain industrial peace and ensure a stable academic calendar in the state-owned university.
“The decision reflects the administration’s commitment to education as a driving force for social and economic transformation. Governor Alia’s government will continue to prioritize the welfare of teachers and students to guarantee uninterrupted learning”, Egbodo assured.
The commissioner also announced that the Benue State House of Assembly had passed and the Governor assented to a new law merging the Education Quality Assurance Agency and the Examinations Board. He said the merger was designed to harmonize their functions, eliminate duplication, and promote efficiency and accountability in the education sector.
Addressing public concerns over the state government’s recent loan request, the commissioner explained that since assuming office, Governor Alia has neither obtained local nor foreign loans until the recent facility approved by the Assembly. He said that the loan was intended to finance ongoing infrastructural projects and would be managed transparently.
“The funds will not be paid directly to government coffers. Instead, payments will be made through banks to contractors based on verified certificates of completion. This ensures proper utilization of resources and alignment with the state’s development priorities.”
