Eschew extra budgetary spending – Edu Sec charges officials

The Secretary for Education in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Sen. Isa Maina has urged officials of the Secretariat to be more prudent with resources and avoid extra-budgetary spending, in order to move the sector forward.
Maina made this call while speaking at a one-day management consultative meeting, at the Education Resource Centre, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting had in attendance heads of the various agencies and boards as well as heads of specialised divisions and units under the Secretariat.
According to the Secretary, the aim of the meeting was to engender “building of synergy and evolve new strategies, and orientation towards actualizing the mandate of the Education Secretariat.
“ I look forward to seeing a more impressive state of education in the FCT.”
In particular, the Secretary urged the forum to draw a new roadmap for rebuilding FCT education sector and reposition it for effective service delivery, beginning with the FCTA 2018 budgetary appropriation.
He also implored stakeholders “to be ready to make sacrifices in the face of lean financial resources from government.”
The FCT education boss tasked officials to endeavour to suggest implementable strategies by thinking outside the box.
He however commended the stakeholders for winning both national and international laurels for the FCT.
Meanwhile, a communique at the end of the meeting reveals that necessary observations were made in order to reposition the education in the FCT, including avoidance of extra-budgetary expenditure by being accurate in preparing budgets by agencies under it.
Equally, early submission of transcripts on financial transactions and the dire need to quickly rebrand the perception of the public about education delivery in FCT formed part of the resolutions reached.
Other observations by the meeting include the imperative for training and retraining of teachers; rehabilitation of dilapidated school facilities; as well as the need to enhance generation of revenue from private schools, among several others.
Some of the major decisions taken at the meeting as contained in the communique include directives that all boards and departments to be meticulous in preparing their budgets, so as to meet implementation targets; prioritization of capital projects in future budgeting; vigorous reorientation in service delivery for the enhancement of positive image of the secretariat and expedition of procurement of critical projects in the education sector.
The Secretariat also decided that it would institutionalize award mechanism in relation to performance; liaise with FCT Sports Council for the revitalization school sports across the territory; address personnel gap in the FCT Education sector and encourage partnerships for the provision and maintenance of critical school facilities.