N2.1bn Spent On Repair Works In Six Schools Not Inflated

The Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Fatima Magudu, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent that the N2.1bn spent on repair works in six schools was not inflated.

The Niger State Government said it spent N2.1bn on the ongoing renovation of six schools, a comment that attracted criticisms from many stakeholders.

But reacting on Wednesday, Magudu said the volume of construction in the schools was worth the expenditure.

The commissioner, who said contractors had been paid 25 per cent of funds, added that more schools would be renovated in the state.

“Have you been to the schools? Go to these schools and assess the jobs going on there. They are science and conventional schools and we are adopting a whole school development approach. There are staff quarters, new classrooms, libraries and everything that you can think of in a school environment. We are renovating to the standard of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. The scope of work going on is even more than the budget and the state government is committed to lifting the faces of these schools that have deteriorated.

“Twenty-five per cent of the budget has been released to the contractors and another is being expected. We cannot ascertain the number of schools that we are going to renovate but many schools will be included in the project. We are confident that the renovation will be completed this year,’’ she said.

The renovated schools are the Government Secondary School, Kutigi; Government Secondary School, Bida; Mariam Babangida Girls’ Secondary School, Minna; Government Secondary School Izom; Government Girls Secondary School Kontagora and Government Secondary School, Rijau.