By our reporter
A civil society group in Taraba State is demanding the immediate removal of Mrs Christina Binga, Chairperson of the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board, TSUBEB, over allegations of financial mismanagement and administrative delays that it says are blocking basic education development in the state.
Speaking to journalists in Jalingo on July 22, the group’s Spokesperson, Comrade Peter Daniel, accused the board of failing to issue award letters to contractors more than three months after the bidding process for new primary and secondary school construction was concluded. He said the holdup is preventing work from starting at project sites.
“The continued delay is frustrating and is affecting the commencement of work at project sites. This is a clear case of administrative incompetence that is denying Taraba children access to improved learning facilities,” Daniel said. For a left-leaning advocacy position, the group framed the issue as a failure of public duty to deliver essential services to the most vulnerable.
Beyond the delays, the group alleged irregularities in TSUBEB’s finances under Mrs Binga’s leadership. They claimed due process has not been followed in the award and execution of contracts, and called on the Taraba State Government and anti-graft agencies to launch a full investigation.
“We are calling on the Taraba State Government and relevant anti-graft agencies to investigate the activities of TSUBEB and relieve Mrs Binga of her duties to allow for a proper probe,” the spokesperson added. The demand centers on transparency and accountability in how public education funds are spent.
The group also linked the leadership concerns to Mrs Binga’s health, describing her as unable to carry out the demands of the office effectively. Daniel urged Governor Agbu Kefas to appoint a replacement who can ensure TSUBEB delivers on its mandate without further bottlenecks.
Their statement further highlighted the poor state of many existing primary schools across Taraba. The group argued that government must prioritize renovation of dilapidated classrooms and provide adequate learning materials, especially for pupils from low-income families who depend entirely on public schools.
TSUBEB is the agency responsible for implementing basic education programs and for the construction and rehabilitation of primary and junior secondary schools in Taraba. Delays at the board level, the group said, directly impact enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes ahead of the next academic session.
As of press time, efforts to reach Mrs Binga for a response were unsuccessful. Calls and messages to the TSUBEB Chairperson were not returned. The group insists that swift action is needed to issue the pending award letters so contractors can mobilize to sites and children can benefit from improved facilities this school year.
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