- Dismisses Bribery Allegations
The Chairman of the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (D-SUBEB), Hon. Samuel Mariere, has strongly denied allegations of extortion and financial impropriety within the Board, describing them as “false, malicious, and baseless.”
In recent days, reports had surfaced alleging that contractors were being compelled to pay between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000 depending on the value of contracts, and that staff of the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics were remitting such monies to the Chairman through intermediaries.
Other insinuations also touched on the alleged misuse of Public Relations Officers deployed from the Ministry of Information.
In a press briefing in Asaba, yesterday, Hon. Mariere said that the accusations were nothing but deliberate falsehoods.
“I state clearly and without hesitation: these allegations are false, malicious, and baseless. At no time have I, or any member of the Board’s leadership, demanded or received gratuities, kickbacks, or any payment, cash or in kind, from contractors, vendors, or partners doing business with D-SUBEB,” he stated.
The Chairman stressed that the Board’s leadership runs on a zero-tolerance policy for corruption in line with the state government’s accountability drive.
He disclosed that 90 per cent of all projects approved in the current cycle had been completed, with contractors fully paid through official channels. “Payments are processed strictly by due process, following verification, certification, and established financial controls,” he said.
To clear any doubt, D-SUBEB convened an emergency contractors’ meeting on August 19, where contractors present publicly confirmed that no money, deductions, or gratuities were ever demanded or paid to him or any Board official.
In his words, “There are no complaints from contractors either officially or unofficially. In fact, during our meeting on Tuesday, August 19, they all expressed satisfaction.”
The Chairman also invited independent verification of the Board’s records. “We welcome any oversight by UBEC, the State Government, civil society, or the media. Our files, inspection logs, and payment records are open for scrutiny. Sunlight is our policy,” he said.
Mariere further presented the Board’s second quarter results, highlighting the delivery of 162 new classrooms, renovation of 491 existing ones, construction of 164 toilets, five solar-powered boreholes, and 22 perimeter walls with gatehouses.
He also said 5,511 teachers have been trained, while the board has distributed of more than 167,000 textbooks, 1,843 digital tablets, and 64 interactive boards.
According to him, over 2,000 out-of-school children have been re-enrolled this quarter, while 218 community tutors have been deployed to hard-to-reach schools. He added that the state’s participation in the Presidential School Debate in Qatar 2025, where Delta students excelled, was another proof of the sector’s growing strength.
Mariere further stressed that the Board’s focus remained on children, not distractions.
“We will not be distracted by falsehood. Our focus is on classrooms, teachers, textbooks, safety, and results for Delta’s children,” he said.
