In testimony to senators at the Senate Education Committee (EC), this Wednesday (11), the director of Management, Articulation and Educational Projects of the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE), Gabriel Vilar, stated that there are 2,581 works of unfinished schools and day care centers with funds from the fund, approved between 2007 and 2022. According to the survey presented to parliamentarians, the cost of these works is R$ 2.389 billion. More than half, about R$ 1.274 billion, has already been paid.
The list presented by the manager states that 352 were not even started, despite having paid 100% of the necessary resources. According to Vilar, since 2017 the FNDE has managed to recover BRL 220 million for the National Treasury, out of about BRL 800 million lost. The autarchy is also negotiating with the city halls the renegotiation of 1,587 of these works. The expectation is that they will be resumed without prejudice to the treasury.
Regarding the investigations of irregularities in the municipality, Gabriel Vilar denied knowing the evangelical pastors Gilmar Santos and Arilton Moura. The religious are accused of asking for bribes from mayors in exchange for releasing FNDE resources. Vilar stated that the FNDE has been cooperating with the CGU in the investigations and that, in the case of the works, it has suggested the improvement of the norms, so that the fund can demand the conclusion of the constructions and improve the control processes.
Another point questioned by senators from the Vilar Commission was the performance of Darwin Einstein Lima, accused of conflict of interest for having been at the same time a consultant for the FNDE and a partner in a company that carried out works with funds from the fund. On the subject, Vilar explained that his board has 72 consultants, hired after a public and transparent selection process, and that “there is no way to control their private life”. He admitted that he was a neighbor of Darwin, but attributed the fact to a coincidence. The manager added that Darwin Lima is no longer a consultant to the FNDE, due to the end of his temporary contract.
Next steps
In the next meetings, senators of the collegiate want to hear the current minister of Education, Victor Godoy Veiga, who was executive secretary of the portfolio in the administration of Milton Ribeiro and already had the invitation approved by the collegiate. Godoy spoke about the matter this Wednesday (11) in a joint hearing of the Education and Inspection and Control Commissions of the Chamber of Deputies.
Another authority that should be called to give an explanation is the Minister of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), Wagner de Campos Rosário. Senators want him to clarify the role of the control body in relation to the complaints. In this case, there are still disagreements between parliamentarians from the governing party and the opposition on whether his trip to the Senate should be made by summons, which implies mandatory attendance, or by invitation, whose participation is optional.
