On Thursday, the Ondo Budget Transparency and Accountability Platform (OBTAP) raised concerns about an unimplemented school rehabilitation project at Ondo Boys High School in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Reports indicate that in 2019, the NDDC approved a budget for the rehabilitation and furnishing of the school building at Ondo Boys High School.
This information was contained in a statement signed by Eyemax Care Foundation (EMCAF), Upline Centre for Development (UCD), Betterliving Foundation and Capacity Development, Precious Pertals Empowerment Centre, and supported by SocialAction and the MacArthur Foundation.
The statement was made available to journalists on Thursday in Akure.
According to the groups, the NDDC’s 2020 Budget Monitoring and Citizens Report indicated that a budget of N100 million was approved in 2019 for the rehabilitation and furnishing of school buildings at Ondo Boys High School.
However, OBTAP’s investigations have revealed that as of July 9, 2024, the project has not commenced.
The groups highlighted that the project had the potential to greatly improve the learning environment for students at the school and stated that the delay in its implementation is unacceptable.
“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing neglect of Ondo Boys High School, despite the allocated funds for its rehabilitation.
“OBTAP urges the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Government to provide a public explanation for the delay in the project’s implementation and disclose the current status of the allocated funds.
” And also to develop a clear timeline for the project’s commencement and completion and ensure transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
“Meanwhile, OBTAP calls on the citizens of Ondo State to hold their government officials accountable for the delivery of public services.
“We also encourage everyone to monitor the progress of this project and report any irregularities to OBTAP, ” groups said.
Leave a Reply