SUBEB Chairman, others to face prosecution for extortion | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
9th December 2020
The Niger State Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Isah Adamu and some key officials of the board have incurred the wrath of the law for collecting unauthorised fees from primary six pupils in the state.
The Niger SUBEB Chairman and his officials are to face criminal prosecution for their actions as resolved by the state House of Assembly.
Adamu and some officers of the board were alleged to have collected levies, supposedly meant for an examination and issuance of testimonials to pupils, against the practice of the board.
The development did not go down well with parents of the pupils, who kicked against it, saying the amount charged was too high and that such has never happened in the state.
It was gathered that while the NSUBEB charges parents N400 for the testimonials, the fees charged by various schools ranges between N500 to N2000 respectively.
The issue was, however, tabled before the state House of Assembly during plenary, under the matter of public importance by the member representing Paikoro Constituency, Suleiman Gambo Rabiu.
Rabiu said NSUBEB has no business with collecting fees from pupils for testimonials while describing the move as illegal.
According to him, “the collection of fees from their constituents especially in this period was very inhumane. It contravenes section 19 and 20 of the law that set up the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board. Testimonials are usually given by schools and not NSUBEB.”
A member representing Bosso Constituency, Mr Malik Madaki Bosso noted that since the action of the Board was illegal and done to siphon money, those involved should be made to face criminal trial in the court of law.
Against this backdrop, the lawmakers agreed that in adherence with the law, the chairman and other officials involved in the matter be taken before a competent court of law to face a criminal trial over their action.
However, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Mr Abdullahi Bawa Wuse passing the recommendation of the House on the issue directed that all fees collected from the primary six pupils be refunded to the parents with immediate effect.
Consequently, the State Commissioner of Education, Mrs Hannatu Jubrin Salihu was directed to appear before the lawmakers to explain further the action of the NSUBEB and why the fees were collected from the parents.