Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Education has commenced visits to establishments under its legislative oversight to ascertain a level of commitment to quality service delivery in line with the MORE mantra of the state government.
Chairman of the Committee, Charles Emetulu, said the eighth Delta State House of Assembly expects nothing but excellent performance in the education sector, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to achieve the set goals.
Flanked by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Chief Benson Obire, and other members, including Chief Ferguson Onwo, Emmanuel Sinebe, Mrs Marylyn Okowa-Daramola, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, and Matthew Omonade, the lawmakers at the start of the legislative oversight were at the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, College of Education Mosogar, and College of Education, Warri.
The chairman, Charles Emetulu, who represents Ndokwa West in the House, said oversight duty is a constitutional responsibility of the legislature, which empowers its committees to oversight on financial appropriations made to the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Emetulu stated that his led House Committee on Education has resolved to ensure standards in the state’s education sector, and commended the removal of some bureaucratic bottlenecks to enable higher institutions run independently for massive infrastructural development.
He urged the authorities to be innovative; pointing out that the managers of educational institutions must create alternative means of funding and not depend solely on the government.
Emetulu said he was very impressed with the institutions, most especially in the area of project executions with internally generated revenue as well as meeting the TETfund requirements to attract projects from the intervention body.
Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Johnbull Tonukeri commended the legislators for the oversight visit and support, and noted that the Ministry has made provisions for accreditations of courses in the various institutions as well as addresses the issue of shortage of staff.
Rector, Delta State Polytechnic Otefe-Oghara, Professor Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, appealed to the Committee to assist on the completion of abandoned projects in the institution and release of funds for accreditations of some programmes.
The Provost of College of Education Mosogar, Dr Israel Emide and that of College of Education Warri, Dr Dickson Oyovwe, appealed for domestication of the dual mode programme as applicable at federal level to enable the institutions to award both NCE certificate and degrees.
