Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has responded to
allegations that the state mismanaged the $90m loan given to it by the
World Bank for improving education standard.
Speaking
during the launch of a book titled, ‘Lagos Eko Project 2009-2013: A
legacy of Excellence’ on Tuesday in Lagos, Fashola said the money was
used for what it was meant,
He also argued that the state could give account of how the fund was utilised.
The governor, who inspected agricultural projects embarked on by the Vetland Secondary School in Agege, said those criticising the state needed to be well informed about the policies of government, noting that a committee was set up to monitor spending of the fund.
“You might have heard some people saying that we have stolen World Bank Eko Project money. This occasion is indeed very important to prove that we did not. The Eko Project money is not in our hands, it is in the hands of the schools.
"The principals and the school don’t also act alone. They listen to a group, School Based Management Committee, before doing anything.
“It is a committee involving guardians, parents, teachers, and community members together planning what will be done in each budgetary year. So, no principal can spend money without the approval of the committee. Contrary to what the public commentator thinks; I think that if at all there was a fault, we can only take responsibility for not communicating enough.
“I will stand up to defend our principals and other public officers because it is an insult to their integrity and status. Every blessed day we account in public because we have nothing to hide from people who elected us.
"It is important to re-emphasise what realities of public school management are, so that those who want to comment about it will have a clear understanding of what they are commenting about,” Fashola said.
Lagos State is believed to have more than one million pupils in its school system.
He also argued that the state could give account of how the fund was utilised.
The governor, who inspected agricultural projects embarked on by the Vetland Secondary School in Agege, said those criticising the state needed to be well informed about the policies of government, noting that a committee was set up to monitor spending of the fund.
“You might have heard some people saying that we have stolen World Bank Eko Project money. This occasion is indeed very important to prove that we did not. The Eko Project money is not in our hands, it is in the hands of the schools.
"The principals and the school don’t also act alone. They listen to a group, School Based Management Committee, before doing anything.
“It is a committee involving guardians, parents, teachers, and community members together planning what will be done in each budgetary year. So, no principal can spend money without the approval of the committee. Contrary to what the public commentator thinks; I think that if at all there was a fault, we can only take responsibility for not communicating enough.
“I will stand up to defend our principals and other public officers because it is an insult to their integrity and status. Every blessed day we account in public because we have nothing to hide from people who elected us.
"It is important to re-emphasise what realities of public school management are, so that those who want to comment about it will have a clear understanding of what they are commenting about,” Fashola said.
Lagos State is believed to have more than one million pupils in its school system.
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