N49m contracts: Buhari dissolves NABTEB board, reverses suspension of registrar

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dissolution of the governing board of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

According to a statement issued by Sonny Echono, permanent secretary, federal ministry of education, the president’s decision takes effect immediately.

The president also rescinded the suspension of Ifeoma Abanihe, NABTEB registrar, and four other directors of the agency.

Abanihe and the four NABTEB directors were suspended over their failure to account for N49 million contracts awarded by the examination body.

The suspension, which followed an investigative panel report, was contained in a letter signed on June 21 by Leonard Shilgba, chairman, NABTEB governing board.

The statement said “due process” was not followed in the suspension of the registrar.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dissolution of the governing board of National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) with immediate effect,” the statement read.

“Mr. President has also directed the Honourable Minister of Education to take immediate measures to reposition and refocus NABTEB for greater efficiency and to render its performance more responsive to the expectations of the present administration.

“The purported suspension of the Registrar, Prof. Ifeoma Abanihe and four (4) other Directors of NABTEB has been nullified as it did not conform with due process especially in the case of the Registrar, because the Board went beyond its powers and in contravention of Section 5 and Section 6 of NABTEB Act.”