Leadership Crisis Rocks Nasarawa Education Trust Fund as Assembly Intervenes
...Lawmakers meet Executive Secretary, Governing Board over alleged financial and administrative irregularities
By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has commenced efforts to resolve the leadership crisis engulfing the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund (NASETF), following allegations of misconduct and violations of the law establishing the agency.
The House Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Education, chaired by Hon. Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki, on Monday invited the Executive Secretary, Abubakar Adamu Idris, and the Chairman of the Governing Board, Timothy Anjide, alongside board members, to investigate the issues and chart a way forward.
The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the lingering dispute, warning that if left unresolved, it could undermine the objectives behind the establishment of the Education Trust Fund.
They stressed that the agency was created to transform the state's education sector and vowed not to allow internal disagreements to derail its mandate.
The crisis followed a petition submitted to the Assembly by the Governing Board accusing the Executive Secretary of breaching the law establishing the Fund.
Presenting the Board's position, Chairman Timothy Anjide alleged that the Executive Secretary awarded 39 contracts without due process and contrary to the provisions of the law.
He also accused him of opening 14 bank accounts,
some of which were allegedly unknown to the Office of the State Accountant-General, and operating the agency without adequate oversight despite interventions by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Anjide further alleged that the Executive Secretary was running the Fund as a "one-man show," making it impossible for the Board to ascertain the agency's financial status.
He disclosed that the Board had sought the intervention of the State Accountant-General and Auditor-General to scrutinize the Fund's finances in line with the law.
The Board Chairman also claimed that the Executive Secretary bypassed both the Governor and the Governing Board by approaching the State House of Assembly to seek amendments to the law establishing the Trust Fund.
Responding to the allegations, Executive Secretary Abubakar Adamu Idris denied any wrongdoing, insisting that all his actions were in compliance with the law establishing the agency, the Public Procurement Law, and the Constitution.
The committee later directed journalists to excuse the proceedings as members continued deliberations behind closed doors.
