CODE Empower SBMCs, on UBEC-SIP Funds Utilisation, Monitoring in Kaduna LGAs
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
Following the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) announcement of the release of N2.8 billion for the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Schools Improvement Project (SIP), an NGO, Connected Development (CODE), is empowering SBMCs in Kaduna State on how to effectively utilizes the funds.
Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of CODE, who disclosed this on Thursday in Kajuru, reiterates the organization’s commitment to ensure that there is accountability in governance across board.
Represented by the State Lead of CODE, Zaliha Lawal, at the opening of a one day training for School Based Management Committee (SBMC) School Monitoring Team (SMT) Members in Kajuru LGA, said the training is also met to empower them to monitor the projects and ensuring value for money.
According to him, it’s also aimed at improving their knowledge of the SIP Fund value-chain, regimes of selection and disbursement, so as to deepen their readiness as they participate in subsequent processes, disbursements and access.
“You can only ask questions when you have knowledge of a subject matter. The essence of this is to helps reduce corruption to it’s barest minimum.” He added.
Lawal, further said, “SBMCs across 65 schools in Kaduna State are benefitting from the funds met for schools’ maintenance, which is already approaching disbursements.
The SBMC-SIP is a school improvement strategy where a community, initiate a self-help project that will be implemented by the SBMC with funding support from UBEC, after initial provision of 10 per cent cost.
The training, Lawal, said started in Jama’a LGA, Zangon Kataf and Kudan, covering the for LGAs where CODE is currently tracking UBEC funds, adding that, “it will deepen their understanding of the programme, how to develop proposal to access and efficiently utilise the funds to achieve the purpose it was meant for.”
The 3-years tracking activities, being funded by the MacArthur Foundation, he explained is already in its second year to ensure transparency and accountability in government spending to curb corruption.
In his goodwill message, the Education Secretary, Kajuru LGA, Mr. Ishaku Simon who was represented by Mr. Habila Gana, pledged the government cooperation and support for CODE in their effort at helping to minimize corruption at the LG level.
He thank CODE for empowering the SBMCs and SMTs on effective utilization of the SIP funds and on how to monitor projects, saying “it will go a long way in improving their work and make them more effective.”
Participants at the training in their various contributions, commended UBEC for her role in strengthening basis education and community engagement through the SBMC.
They therefore, thanked CODE for building their capacity and helping them to improve in the delivery of quality and accessible education in the country.
