Governor David Umahi has lauded the high level of prudence and honesty exhibited by the executive committee charged with the furnishing and equipping of the Ebonyi State School of Nursing, preparatory to its accreditation.
The physical structures in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, located in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area was recently completed by the Umahi-led administration, ready to commence academic activities.
Consequently, a five-man Executive Committee, headed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Higher Education, Prof. Adaeze Nwuzor, was set up to equip the school in order to enable it meet accreditation requirements by the Nursing Council of Nigeria.
Over N99.8 million budgeted for the purpose was released by the Government.
Briefing newsmen jointly at the end of Wednesday’s State Executive Council Meeting at the Government House, Abakaliki, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, noted that the Governor expressed deep satisfaction with the report of the Committee, especially for their honesty and prudence in returning to the State treasury over N28 million saved from the project.
The Commissioner, who expressed pride in the action of the Governor’s aide and his committee members, added that such acts in management of public funds ought to be celebrated to serve as inspiration for other public office holders in the Country.
Onwe emphasized that inasmuch as corrupt public office holders were often made notorious in the media for their various acts of embezzlement of public funds, such exceptional performance as exhibited by the Committee should be given media prominence for wider commendation and emulation.
Onwe Said: “Let me emphasize that this committee was given nearly N100 million, precisely the sum of N99,865,118.00 (Ninety-nine Million, eight hundred and sixty-five thousand, one hundred and eighteen naira) to execute this job.
“They, in the course of doing the job, bargained very hard and got the job home at the rate of N71,377,450.00 (Seventy-one million, three hundred and seventy-seven thousand, four hundred and fifty naira) and they reported to Council on the saving they have made to the tune of N28,487, 668.00 (Twenty-eight million, four hundred and eighty-seven thousand, six hundred and sixty-eight naira)
“Now, if it is a story of a Commissioner or a member of Council stealing one naira, it will make headlines.
“That these people were given this amount of money and they returned over N28 million to the coffers of the treasury is something that is commendable and the Governor commended them very highly and I think it will be a cooperative spirit if you (the media, as partners in this, will make this a headline if you can find it in your methods to do that because I think it’s deserving.”
Briefing further on the subject, the Committee Chairman Prof. Adaeze Nwuzor, noted that the School of Nursing was ready to be accredited after being furnished by her Committee.
Nwuzor explained that they had to travel to several markets across the country to compare prices before they made purchases, so much so that they were able to cut costs, thereby returning the said amount.
She described Governor Umahi as an education-friendly Governor, adding that they were inspired to act in such a manner by the Governor’s approach to management of public fund.
She, however, told newsmen that Umahi has directed that the sum of N23 million from the saved fund should be used to erect houses for the resettlement of those who were displaced by the location of the Nursing institution.
The Committee has the State Accountant-General, Queen Agwu, as Secretary, with the Special advisers to the Governor on Health Services, petroleum, Special duties and primary health as members.