By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola has disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), is currently implementing an upgrade of schools infrastructure under the 100 schools programme which entails the renovation and upgrading of 100 schools in 100 days.
.Adesola noted that the objective of
the 100 days project is to create conducive learning environment for students by providing infrastructure and facility for students in FCT schools.
He said that the outcome of the project will ensure that the FCT will be able to produce more brilliant students coming out of the system.
Adesola disclosed this yesterday, while receiving commendation from the leadership All-African Students
Union (AASU), in Abuja.
According the Permanent Secretary immediately after the release of contract, the execution will take only 100 days, adding that it pushes the administration to pick out very credible contractors, who have the capacity, identify the schools, measure the works and other activity required.
However, he disclosed that unfortunately, the previous government was not able to carry out the programme , but the project is still being implemented because government is a continuum.
Adesola said, “For us in FCT, the commitment to the growth and development of the educational sector is a priority. And we are currently implementing the 100 by 100 programme which entails the renovation and upgrading of 100 schools in 100 days.”
“We are also addressing the skills requirements and the welfare need of our staff. Last year, over 80 teachers were promoted from Deputy Directors to Principal Directors. This is to ensure that these teachers or employees are well motivated after the large amount of years they served by attaining the peak of their careers, so that they can continue to deliver teaching services.”
“We also pay attention to the challenge of security which is very difficult to sustain because we spend substantial amount on the effort to provide it. In our schools particularly, those are the fringes and we use both the conventional and non conventional methods.”
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary lamented that the major challenge is the influx of the students trooping into the FCT. Majority of students in the FCT are from the neighboring states around the city because of inadequacies of government in providing standard facilities and this pushes thtem to trekking into the nation’s capital especially from Nasarawa to Abuja, Kogi to Abuja or even Niger to Abuja.
“So in all those fringes, you see the schools are very fat in terms of human population, but because it is still one Nigeria, we believe that they are entitled to be educated and wil continue to provide them in that aspect.”
The AASU President and leader of the delegation, Osisiogu Osikenyi, commended the FCTA embarking on improving better access to education at all levels in the Territory.
Osikenyi expressed worries about campus insecurity, but said the Union is very happy that despite this no campus in the FCT is on the ugly of campuses that have been attacked by hoodlums, ,”we want you to intensify on that.”
He called on the FCTA to continue liaising with security agencies to make sure that campuses, especially those which are located at the borderlines of the FCT are secured.
