Patrons of the library are bemoaning the loss of valuable reading space as the Eket Divisional Library announced it was renting part of the building to a “prophet’ for religious activities.
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Patrons of the library are bemoaning the loss of valuable reading space as the Eket Divisional Library announced it was renting part of the building to a “prophet’ for religious activities.
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A source for SaharaReporters alleged that large sums of money changed hands between the library board staff and the church for the tenancy.
It was learned that a Director in the Library Board in charge of Library Services approved the irregular deal which conflicts with the nature of the public institution, which statutorily remains open, till 10 pm daily.
SaharaReporters gathered that officials of the library board claimed they were constrained to sublet the library to a church to raise funds to maintain the facility.
However the proceeds from the rent paid by the church could not by traced as there are no records of the unfortunate transaction in the books of the board.
The Chief Librarian at the Divisional Library declined to comment when questioned about the state of the facility.
The Church has commenced roofing and renovation of part of the library they rented and hope to commence services shortly.
It remains unclear how the facility would accommodate a religious organization and the reading public.
The library users who spoke on the state of the library noted that the institution has lost its former glory and that the neglect of the institution was disturbing.
The leaking roofs at the facility had resulted to colossal damage to books in the library even as the place is usually flooded.
The flooding has become a nightmare to the library staff that usually scoop water whenever it rains.
A user of the facility said angrily: “You can see the cause for the decline in reading culture. The government is sowing the seed of illiteracy and yet professes the problem by offering free education… how can there be literacy when the institution to promote reading is in such a poor state?” he asked
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