The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Joan Oviawe has ruled out attempts by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) to either interrogate or jail her in connection with $75m World Bank grant meant to reform Education policy during Governor Godwin Obaseki administration.
TheNewspad recalls that Oviawe and some other appointees accused of official corruption, had been recommend for probe by critics of the State Peoples Democratic Party-led government.
Speaking during an online interview anchored by UK-based Nigerian, Oviawe disclosed this late Monday, explained that the grant, was neither meant to build infrastructure, nor disbursed by her.
Explaining the procedure on why it took the State government one year to get the World Bank winning proposal through the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Oviawe stated that “it took us over one year to write that proposal for $75 million World Band money”.
“And the programme is called Programme for Result. It means that you would have done the work before they (World Bank) will now release the money.
“Our critics are saying that we got $75 million and we didn’t go infrastructure. World Bank does not give money to sub-national governments directly. The Ministry do not also give money to pay teachers salaries. They can allow you do teachers training.
“But a lot of their funding is around Pedagogy, Technology and how to use technology to enhance teaching and learning. So, as a Commissioner, I have nothing to do with it (the money)”, she did not reveal who was in charge of.
She said, “When people call me and say that EFCC is going to invite me, and I say I am not afraid. What am I afraid of? Unless they want to victimize me. Can you put me in jail over an amount of money I am not in charge of?
“I am still very much in Benin. And I want to finish”, according to the Commissioner who lamented that “what she finds disgusting often by the perception of some Nigerians that the people working in government are branded either as corrupt or thieves”.
Oviawe further said, “I want to move on with my life in November 2024. I want to assure you that I am not fazed. I am not afraid. EFCC is not going to arrest me for doing nothing. You cannot attach the $75m to my name”.
Continuing, Oviawe said, the Governor Obaseki-led
government intervened in about 600 public schools, noting that “the Ministry of Education, we don’t build schools. Our role is to implement government policies”.
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