UBEC Executive In The Clear? Lawmaker Says Corruption Claims Are Fabricated

The Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Hon. Mark B. Useni, has firmly dismissed circulating media reports that accuse the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, of administrative misconduct. He described the allegations as both baseless and deceptive.

In a press statement issued in Taraba State, Useni—who represents the Ussa/Takum/Donga Federal Constituency—criticized the reports as deliberate attempts to mislead the public about the activities of the legislature and its oversight on education.

According to iReporter Online, he emphasized that the media narratives misrepresent the reality of parliamentary proceedings.

Useni clarified that neither the House Committee nor its Senate counterpart on Basic Education has received any petition, document, or official correspondence indicating any breach of the UBEC Act or acts of maladministration by Aisha Garba.

According to iReporter Online, this contradicts the misleading claims being circulated in the press.

He explained that the recent joint legislative retreat, which took place in Lagos between Thursday, July 17, and Sunday, July 20, 2025, was entirely focused on reviewing proposed amendments to the UBEC Act—pointing out that no issues of misconduct or wrongdoing were discussed during the event.

“The retreat was productive and focused on refining the legal foundation for basic education reform in Nigeria,” Useni said, adding that the committees received a comprehensive briefing from UBEC’s leadership and were impressed by the ongoing reforms, especially in quality assurance and collaboration with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).

He warned against conflating individual expressions with official legislative positions and emphasized that it is inappropriate to associate the committee’s duties with personal allegations.

According to iReporter Online, Aisha Garba has been widely commended for her efforts toward transparency, accountability, and efficient service delivery since her appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Useni called on the media to exercise due diligence in verifying facts before publication and advised that any genuine concerns about UBEC’s operations should be channeled through appropriate legislative procedures.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”