Ogunyemi challenges Lagos exam board on budget target

Eromosele Ebhomele

Chairman of the Lagos Assembly committee on Education, Lanre Ogunyemi, has pleaded with the state Examination Board to ensure that the surpass their budget target for 2016.

Ogunyemi, who led other members of his committee on a tour of the board office which also houses the state Scholarship Board, said though the revenue generated by the Examination Board for 2015 was commendable, such feat must be surpassed especially at this time when the state government was looking inwards to shore up its revenue.

The committee chairman however lamented the lack of office accommodation for the staff noting that this could hamper efficiency.

He promised that the committee would help the two boards push the request for the completion of a massive building the state had started years ago for the two boards.

“We commend you for your hardwork and commitment to duty. Even in the face of your not-too-convenient environment, you have continued with your job passionately.

“Of particular interest is the abandoned office building that we have seen. We know that if we can pull that through, this environment will wear a new look. If the edifice is completed, it will take off a lot of pressure you are currently undergoing in terms of office space and accommodation.

“We want to assure you your House of Assembly will always be there for you. We will continue to call on you from time to time to find out from you what the issues are.

“Our oversight is not a witch-hunt exercise, but for us to see what can be done to make you better,” Ogunyemi said adding that his committee decided to visit agencies under it to know the progresses and challenges instead of waiting to rely on briefs from the agencies.

Hassan Oluwafemi, the Director of the Examination Board, who noted that this was the very time a committee of the House would visit the board, had told the committee members that the board generated N811 million in 2015.

He also told the committee that the project was supposed to be a two storey building with 56 offices with a gallery, a boardroom but that work on it had been very slow.

He said though the project had been considered in the 2016 budget, the committee should also assist to see to its completion.

Speaking on behalf of the two boards, Director of the state Scholarship Board, Mrs. Omauton Yetunde Jegede, said the workers were very dedicated to duty even though they lacked good office accommodation.

“We promise to cooperate with the committee and the House. If there is anyway you think we need to be reprimanded, we are ready to change,” she said adding that the government of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had been supportive.

The committee also visited the Eva Adelaja Girls Secondary School, Bariga, where its members inspected facilities and commended the two principals.

The committee however complained of the security situation of the school after learning that the school only relied on two officials of the Neighbourhood Watch.

The committee promised to look into the case of overcrowded classrooms and accommodation for the principals and house mistresses as the principals, Mrs. Oyegoke Irure, and Mrs. Oluwanifesimi Atinuke Coker, told the lawmakers that there were an average of 60 students in a class.

Ogunyemi urged the students to be serious so as to end up becoming useful persons in the future.

“We started like you all and today we members of the House of Assembly.

“I have come to see how you are doing, the environment, how secured your school is. We made promises to your parents during the campaigns that we are going take care of your welfare. This is exactly why we are here,” he said as he prayed for the them.

Barrister Magaret Titlayo Solarin, the head of Education District 2 which oversees the Eva Adelaja school, commended the lawmakers for the unscheduled visit promising to always do her best to place schools under her in the best competitive positions in the state and in Nigeria.

She recalled that her schools had constantly provided athletes for the state during sports festivals and that the district is the only one that organises sports festivals for its students.

“Our model colleges have been supplied with matresses and bunk bed. We are proud to say that we are leading in area of sports.

“The district is the only one providing athletes for sports festival for seven years.
We organise education district merit award and the prize we give our teachers is beyond imagination,” she said while commending Governor Ambode for prompt payment of salaries to teachers in the state.