The Federal Government has highly praised the Kwara State Government for its compliance with contractual guidelines under the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC).

Elder Edward Abalaka, UBEC's North Central Zonal Director, issued the commendation during the bid-opening ceremony for the first and second quarters of the 2024 Federal Government/UBEC/State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) intervention projects in Ilorin, the state capital.

Over 258 contractors submitted bids for tenders advertised in both local and national newspapers. The projects include constructing and renovating classrooms and VIP toilets, fabricating teachers' and pupils' furniture, installing motorised solar boreholes, and procuring essential educational equipment.

Abalaka highlighted that Kwara State, under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has been a model in adhering to UBEC's procedural requirements. He urged contractors to execute the projects to specification, warning that poor workmanship or project abandonment would not be tolerated.

Chairman of the board, Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the projects were crucial to enhancing the learning environment, promoting quality education, and ultimately benefiting the students, teachers, and communities.

"We expect a competitive bidding process, and we assure you that our evaluation will be transparent, fair, and in compliant with procurement regulations," he said.

The chairman said the governor has also just paid into the board's account a counterpart fund for the assessment of the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2024, adding that the board will soon advertise for tender.

Adaramaja commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his administration's commitment to educational development and the support enjoyed by the federal government through the Universal Basics Education Board (UBEC).