Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has predicted that very soon money from the federal allocation might seize coming to states
Umahi, who was speaking to ’31 pilot’ principals of secondary schools in the state on the need to revive the school farming programme at the weekend in Abakaliki, however blamed past administrations for the woes the country is currently into, insisting that past administrations failed to save for the rainy days
The governor noted that the current fall in crude oil price was an indication that states might not be getting anything from the allocation accrued to states by the federal government
To salvage the current economic crisis and looming food shortage in the country, the governor posited for aggressive diversification of the economy
He said the easiest way to revamp the economy is to invest into the agriculture sector through mechanised system of farming
“We are here because our leaders failed to understand that today will come when the oil will no longer sell for good money, I want you to do aggressive school farming, this is the number one job for you, the school agriculture programme”
He said the state was spending one hundred and fifty million naira to fund the school agriculture programme
Although the programme is aimed at fighting youth restiveness and boost food production in the state, Umahi insisted that there was the need to return back to agriculture in the period of dwindling oil revenue
According to the governor, the one hundred and fifty million is expected to come in two tranches and will be paid into accounts of the various schools. The first instalment will be seventy five million naira
He added that government would in turn buy the food product harvested in the school farms to feed the students to enable them get better nutrition
Mr Umahi however scrapped the office of principal for the junior secondary schools, saying that those who have been holding the position would become the vice principals in charge of administration
The governor also directed principals of schools to relocate to their school premises to carry out their task effectively
“Also, the programme will also help in reducing the high rate of cultism in our schools. We will no lone have principal for junior and senior secondary schools, the junior principal would now become the vice principal administration
“Principals must live in the school though the school will not be fenced, we will get civil defense personnel to secure the schools,” he said
He nevertheless charged the principals to revive the physical education subject in their various schools to enable the students to maintain fitness.
[Julius Yinka]
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