UNICEF finally approved the deployment of the materials from its warehouse to the benefiting local government areas.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it learnt that some government officials in Adamawa State have diverted learning materials donated for children's use to private ventures.
The UNICEF consultant for education in Adamawa, Joel Isiah, criticised this development as he described the development as “sabotage.”
He explained that the materials are a donation meant to support thousands of vulnerable children in the state whose parents cannot afford or have no access to these materials, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Isiah said, “The UN organisation received credible information that UNICEF learning materials supplied and meant for vulnerable children were being sold in markets in the state.
“UNICEF is shocked by this. The learning materials are a donation meant to support thousands of vulnerable children in the state whose parents cannot afford or have no access to these materials.”
He added that UNICEF always works with the Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education and local education authorities in the movement of such materials.
“UNICEF finally approved the deployment of the materials from its warehouse to the benefiting local government areas.
“We have so far supplied these materials to eight Local Government Areas and were received by the Local Education Authorities.
“These materials are not to be sold. It is a crime against the education rights of Children, humanity and law,” Isiah stated.
The materials, he said, are school bags, mathematical sets, writing books, cleaners, sharpeners among others.
“UNICEF is pleading with the appropriate security and authorities concerned to, as matter of urgency, do what is right. Any person found involved should be brought to book irrespective of his high position,” he urged.