The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi has urged the state governments to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the intervention funds released to them for implementation of Universal Basic Education.

He made the call in Abuja while declaring open a 3-day training Workshop organised by the Commission for State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) Directors of Finance, Heads of Internal Audit and UBE Accounts Desk Officers on Accounting and Reporting Requirements for the FGN-UBE Intervention Funds.

Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, had last week revealed that the Federal Government through UBEC has disbursed more than N170 billion as matching grants to States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since 2015 to support the implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) in the country.

While acknowledging the enormous resources being committed to basic education delivery by the Commission, the UBEC boss said the importance of transparency and accountability in the discharge of collective duties on basic education service delivery could not be overemphasised.

Bobboyi said: “My first interaction with this group was in Kaduna in 2018. Since then, this workshop has continued to be an important event for the Commission for interaction with stakeholders of basic education at the State level.

“As you are aware, the importance of transparency and accountability in the discharge of our collective duties on basic education service delivery cannot be overemphasised.

“Our day to day operations have recently come under close scrutiny and hence, we must collectively focus on our operations, especially how we manage the FGN-UBE Intervention Funds. The effect of one side’s underperformance can have adverse consequences for all of us.

“In view of this, the Commission in collaboration with the SUBEBs in 2019 finalised work on the then newly developed IPSAS Accounting Manual.

“The Manual contains all Accounting functions, National Chart of Accounts and sample books of accounts & financial records to be used by the Commission as well as the States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs),” he said.

The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Deputy Director, Finance and Account, Mrs Rosemary Ujunwa, said the main objective was to strengthen the system by reinvigorating the rules and procedures for executing financial transactions in order to foster greater service delivery and public confidence.

He told the participants drawn from the 36 states of the Federation and FCT to use the opportunity of the training programme to share experiences, review performances, identify possible challenges and design appropriate strategies to address the challenges

“As you focus your attention on these ideals as stipulated in the accounting manual, in the course of the interactive workshop.

“On our part, UBEC Management will provide all the necessary support, leadership, guidance, direction and training towards ensuring successful adherence to the workshop theme i.e. Accounting and Reporting requirements which would lay the foundation for increasing and promoting transparency, accountability, probity and efficiency in the management of FGN-UBE Intervention Funds placed under our jurisdiction,” he said.

In a goodwill message, Deputy Director, Administration and Supply of UBEC, Paul Anyim, called for a robust synergy between the Commission and SUBEBs to adequately tackle challenges in the basic education sector.

“We need to synergise on how to manage the resources as we can not do it alone. At the end of this workshop we look forward to results that will move the sector forward,” he said.