States Must Contribute 5% Counterpart Funding To Qualify For Intervention – Education Commission

• The NSSEC Act requires states to contribute at least 5% as counterpart funding to qualify for the commission’s intervention
• Dr. Iyela urges Akwa Ibom State to change the name of SSEB to SSSEB and establish Senior Secondary Education Boards as mandated by the NSSEC Act 2003

Dr. Iyela Ajayi, Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), revealed that the Act establishing the commission requires states to contribute at least 5% as counterpart funding to qualify for their intervention.

Dr. Iyela, while urging the government of Akwa Ibom State to change the name of the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) to State Senior Secondary Education Board (SSSEB), stated that Section 21, subsection 2 of the NSSEC Act 2003 also requires states to comply by establishing Senior Secondary Education Boards.

He said this during a courtesy call to Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Senator Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, in Uyo.

He emphasized the importance of state SSEB representation with the composition and functions specified in the Act, saying, “This will assist in fast-tracking legislative process as well as drafting and passage of the Executive Bill by the States Houses of Assembly, uniformity of all SSSEB Laws, and elimination of any contradicting provision that would exclude states from benefiting from the NSSEC fund.”

“Establishment of the state Senior Secondary Education Boards will also give room for smooth implementation of NSSEC functions and mandate in all states,” he stated.

The Executive Secretary also requested that the government of Akwa Ibom provide a furnished office for the Commission’s provisional office and land in Uyo for the Commission’s South-South zonal office.

Dr. Eyakenyi responded by expressing her State Government’s willingness to collaborate with the Commission.

She stated that land in Uyo had already been designated for SSSEB, and she assured the Commission that Akwa Ibom State was adequately prepared to draft and pass the Executive Bill, with the State House of Assembly ready to expedite its passage.