Free Pupils Textbooks Resold In Abia Markets.

Books acquired by the Universal Basic Education, for free distribution to pupils are on sale in the open market in Umuahia, Abia State capital.

UBE customized books are produced by the Federal Government and ought to be distributed free to pupils.

Though it is boldly marked “not for sale”, Vanguard learnt that teachers have been asking parents to go and buy the books in the open market, an action that smacks of connivance.

“Governor Orji must be mad with those involved in this illegal act,” an aggrieved father said in an interview.

A mother, who simply identified herself as Maureen, disclosed that she was given a list of books to buy for her children and paid N1,100 to acquire “Pupil Book 1 UBE Edition Learn Mathematics for Primary Schools.”

When confronted, Chief Micah Onyebuchi, ASUBEB chairman in the state, said the books which were being sold in the open market, were not meant for Abia State schools.

Onyebuchi said that all the books from UBE for the state were sent to his office directly, adding that they had been distributed to the schools in the state.

He stressed that the books were customized and not meant to be sold.

He said: “When the books are sent down to us, we stamp them with ASUBEB stamp beside the UBE/FGN not for sale and are given out to the pupils and I am sure that nobody in this office is playing pranks with the books meant to be given to pupils for free.”