FG suspends NSSEC boss over alleged financial misappropriation

By Maryam Abeeb

The Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, Professor Benjamin Abakpa, has been suspended over alleged financial misappropriation.

In a letter of suspension signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Andrew David Adejo, Professor Abakpa, was asked to proceed on immediate suspension to allow the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) carry out full investigation into the allegations levelled against him.

Appointed in April 2021, Mr Abakpa is the pioneer executive secretary of the Commission.

Mr Abakpa, who was reportedly suspended was asked to hand over to the most senior director in the Federal Ministry of Education (FME).

The matter was said to have been referred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigations.

The National Secondary Education Commission (NSEC) Law was enacted in 2004 (LFN, 2004 Cap 73). However, after the merger of junior secondary school to basic education, the bill was amended to become the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC).

Part of NSSEC’s mandate is the regulation of Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, managing the National Senior Secondary Education Funds, and advising the Federal Government on the management of senior secondary education.

Mr Abakpa holds a Bachelor’s and Masters of Education (B.Ed and M.Ed) in Mathematics from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and a Doctorate degree (PhD) in Mathematics from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. He became a professor of Mathematics Education in 2018.

He was born on 3rd November 1957 and hails from Orokam Local Government Area of Benue State.