Wike approves N30bn to rehabilitate schools in FCT

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike on Tuesday, January 30, approved N30.9 billion for massive rehabilitation of schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCT Administration, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed this while briefing reporters in Abuja.

Hayyo said the approval of the funds was a testament to the priority the minister placed on the education sector.

He said out of the fund, N13.3 billion was approved for the renovation and rehabilitation of 40 schools, which would be completed in 100 days.

Hayyo added that N13.1 billion was also approved for an accelerated whole-school rehabilitation approach, beginning with 18 schools.

He explained that the whole school rehabilitation approach was designed to rehabilitate the entire school infrastructure and facilities, including toilets, hostels, dining and provision of furniture and water.

He further said four schools would also be renovated in the second batch of the whole-school rehabilitation approach at the cost of N4.5 billion.

He identified the schools as Government Science Technical College Kwali, Government Science Technical College Maitama, Government Secondary School Kuje and Government Secondary School Wuse II.

The mandate secretary said all the projects would be completed before May 2024 and would be part of the project that would be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu to mark his one year in office.

The mandate secretary also commended the minister for addressing the lingering crisis between primary school teachers and the Area Council Secretariat.

He explained that the minister has committed to settle 40 percent of the N7 billion minimum wage arrears owed to the primary school teachers by the six area councils.

Hayyo further said the area councils would settle the remaining 60 percent of the amount, which would be paid within the next three months.

He said the amount to be paid by the area councils would be deducted from the source to ensure compliance.

Hayyo, who assured that all necessary procurement procedures would be followed, complained that the renovations were massive because the previous administration did not do much in the sector.

“The previous administration neglected the education sector. No meaningful intervention by the previous administration in the education sector of the FCT.

“That is why a huge work is going to be done by the current administration. That is why the minister took education as a serious matter and earmarked about N30 billion,” he said.