The Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process in the implementation of multi-year basic education intervention projects, ABN TV reports.
Speaking during the official bid opening ceremony held at the ASUBEB headquarters in Umuahia on Tuesday, May 14, 2025, the Executive Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Lydia Onuoha, said the event marked a critical step in the utilization of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) intervention funds from 2020 to 2023.
The bidding process, advertised in two national newspapers and one local daily on April 6, 2025, drew expressions of interest from eligible contractors vying for projects ranging from the construction and renovation of classrooms to the provision of furniture and learning materials across Abia’s early childhood, primary, and junior secondary schools.
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“The funds are meant to retrofit our schools and make them look like proper learning environments, not the dilapidated structures many of them have become,” Mrs. Onuoha stated.
She emphasized that the entire process is being guided by the Public Procurement Act of 2007, and that the board will not compromise on its principles of equity, integrity, and quality service delivery. “We stand for transparency. We stand for accountability. We stand for trust. We will not disappoint the children of Abia State,” she assured.
In a bid to ensure openness, ASUBEB invited independent observers to witness the proceedings, including representatives from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), civil society organizations, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and other key stakeholders from the private and public sectors.
She also announced that successful contractors will undergo an onboarding orientation to align them with the standards and expectations for project execution. “We have a dedicated monitoring and evaluation team made up of professionals—engineers, quantity surveyors, and ICT experts—who will ensure compliance with project specifications and timely delivery,” she added.
Mrs. Onuoha urged contractors to uphold the highest standards of honesty and professionalism, reminding them that the children of Abia are counting on the outcome of this process. She also promised timely payments to contractors who meet project benchmarks and deliver quality work.
“Let’s remember that as we deliver, the children are watching. This is not just a job—it’s a responsibility to the future of our state,” she concluded.
