Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, has issued a stern warning to contractors handling renovation and construction projects in primary schools across the state, insisting that substandard work will not be tolerated.
Dr. Kassim gave the warning during a meeting with contractors executing the 2024 matching grant projects held at the board’s headquarters in Lafia.
He emphasised that the contractors have a three-month deadline to complete their assignments to allow the board to access the 2025 grants.
The NSUBEB boss expressed disappointment over the state of some projects completed just a year or two ago, which are already in need of repairs—a situation he described as evidence of poor workmanship.
He vowed to revoke any contracts that fail to meet the board’s revised standards.
“This is our state, we don’t have another one. Let’s help our state and our children by executing quality jobs in our primary schools,” he urged.
Dr. Kassim also noted that only a few residents in Nasarawa State can afford private schools with quality facilities, stressing the importance of ensuring public schools meet high standards to serve the majority effectively.
“We can’t renovate a school this year and slate same school for renovation next year, it’s shows there was no quality job abinitio, we can’t be having 90% of our projects as renovations, let’s also build new schools instead of renovations.
“Please let’s help Nasarawa State, let’s appreciate the huge counterpart funds Governor Sule is paying to access funds from UBEC office Abuja and them our contractors will do a sub-standard job, I won’t accept that.
“I won’t pay any sub-standard job done, I won’t hesitate to revoked any contract that does not meet our specifications, this is a new administration in NSUBEB and it’s not going to be business as usual. I will monitor all projects to ensure strict compliance to our guidelines before final payment is made” Dr Kassim said
Responding, Alhaji Turaki Ganji, a contractor, who spoke on behalf of the over 30 contractors that attended the meeting, pledged to abide by the rules set by the executive chairman.
