Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike

Minister of State for Education,  Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has stated that the pace of work on special girl-child schools and new libraries in Federal Unity Colleges across the country will be stepped up to meet the Education for All (EFA), goals of the government.

The minister spoke in Rivers State on Tuesday, during an inspection visit to the new Girl-Child Special School in Aluu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Federal Government College, Port Harcourt and Federal Government College, Abuluoma.

The minister stated that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had been directed to ensure the constant release of funds to performing contractors for the projects to be completed within approved time lines.

He stated that he was impressed by the work done by the contractor at the Special Girl-child School in Aluu, pointing out that the commitment of the contractor to the project despite environmental and payment challenges was commendable.

He said: “President Goodluck Jonathan has maintained that all projects targeted at improving basic education must be completed on schedule. That is why we are working round the clock to keep the contractors on their toes. Any contractor that fails to deliver on schedule will be duly sanctioned because we will not tolerate excuses.”

The minister urged the contractor constructing a library at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, to expedite action, while he commended the contractor of the library project at Federal Government Girls College, Abuloma for ensuring that the speed of execution was maintained.

In his remarks at the Special Girl-Child School, Prince Emma Anyanwu, a contractor, assured the minister that the contractors are committed to the timely completion of projects awarded to them.

High point of the tour was the inspection of classrooms, hostels and laboratories of the two Federal unity colleges in Port Harcourt.