FG To Blacklist Erring Publishers

The Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike, at the weekend said that any publisher who will not meet up with the six weeks ultimatum given by the Federal Government to distribute text books to primary and junior secondary school level will be blacklisted.

This is even as he cautioned them to desist from colluding with state SUBEB from not distributing the actual number of text books they were supposed to give and from repurchasing already distributed books

Wike Said, “Every effort made by the federal government to improve quality of education at the basic level is being sabotaged by various people and we believe that we should call you as those who have been given the contract for the purchase of the materials with core subjects in our public primary and junior secondary.”

He also warned them not to repeat what they did last year and making sure that each school gets their actual number of text books.

In his words, “Last year,you frustrated our efforts to deliver these books directly to the students when it was needed,most of you did not deliver on time and you started distributing books when pupils went for holidays. Now it is first term,I do know that you have been given six weeks to distribute these books to various schools, so, in the second week of November, government will start distributing these books, we don’t want to hear any excuses, that you have not been paid on time, If there is any sabotage, we will blacklist that publisher,no amount of pressure or blackmail will change it”.

He however said that government is going to appoint independent monitors who will help check to know the number of books they will distribute to various states.

“Federal government is making efforts to improve quality of education,you should also support us by making sure that efforts of government will not go in vain, If as you are going ahead and you have any stumbling block from UBEC please do not hesitate to let us know,

If there is impediment,do let us know.”

In his response,the President of the Nigeria publishers, Samuel Kolawale, said that non of their member will indulge in such acts and promised to serve and deliver on time. 

“Non of the genuine publishers will do this kind of thing you talked about, we have registered membership and we have told you that publishers are real partners in progress and we want to identify with your aspirations,we believe that education is the key that will unleash development in the country.

We want to assure you that as soon as you give us the opportunity to serve and deliver, we will do so,” he assured.