Ortom debunks SUBEB claim of giving him 20 UBEC computers

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has debunked and exonerated himself from the false claimed that 20 out of the 100 computers given to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), were collected for his personal used.

Ortom made the clarification yesterday at Government House, when he received the report of a committee set up by the state government and headed by the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Denis Ityaryar to reposition the board.

“I did not collect 20 computers or money from SUBEB. Collect to do what with? It is the schools that need those computers,” the governor said. While commending the committee for painstakingly carrying out the assignment, he noted that SUBEB is the only agency in the state that people working there, whether junior or senior staff live flamboyant lives.

“In fact, they are nicknamed ATM or Dangote. We must reposition the agency. Mistakes were done in the past and we have to correct them henceforth,” the governor maintained,” Ortom added

Consequent to this, a Director in SUBEB, that erroneously indicted the governor in the report and was in attendance at the event, Dr Mrs Margaret Bijah stood up to clarified that the computers were still in the office and we’re not supplied to the governor by the erstwhile chairman of the board, Dr Philip Tachin as mandated by SUBEC Abuja.

While submitting the committee report, the chairman of the committee who doubles as Commissioner for Education in the state, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, had also said the financial records of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) were doctored in such a manner that only Forensic Auditors can audit them.

According to Prof. Ityavyar, in the committee recommendation, “We recommend that a forensic auditor be hired in order to audit the financial records of the board because they are too dirty.

“Also, the role of the Procurement Officer be separated from Universal Basic Education Commission Matching Grant Accountant.

“All the directors at the board should be redeployed to the office of Head of Service to be posted to other MDAs. No officer should serve above four years on a post,” he suggested.