Over N9.6bn spent on education development projects in Abuja —FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it has committed over N9.6 billion on education development projects in the FCT in 2017.

The administration also said that education-related projects worth N2.8 billion have been completed, while projects worth nearly N4 billion was awarded and would be completed in a few months’ time.

Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Senator Isah Maina, who disclosed this to newsmen during the 11^th Annual Media Luncheon of the Secretariat, further revealed that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello within the run of his administration approved the payment of the sum of N2.8 billion for counterpart projects between the FCTA and international partners.

“Some of the projects already completed and paid for by the Education Secretariat are the construction and rehabilitation of over 400 primary and junior classroom blocks across the territory, fencing of three secondary schools, furnishing of classrooms, offices, transit and staff quarters at Abuja University of Technology, Abaji, and provision of laptop computers to secondary schools in Kuje and Jabi among others.

“Other projects worth N3.8 billion that were awarded and awaiting completion are the furnishing and equipping of science laboratories at GGSS Kuje and GGSS Abaji for computer-based exam (CBE) Centre, ITVI, Utako, the supply of laptop computers for students”, he announced.

Under the counterpart projects, Senator Maina disclosed that the FCT minister authorized the release of the sum of N2.8 billion counterpart funds, which enabled the administration to access the UBE funds, including the unpaid arrears of 2014 for the Teachers Professional Development (TPD) fund.

This, according to him, brought the FCT up to date on its financial obligations to UBEC having paid till 2016.

To give brilliant but indigent students in the FCT opportunity to excel in their educational pursuit, he said the administration also approved the disbursement of N96 million under the FCT Education Assistance Scheme to clear the backlog of 5,450 students that applied for scholarships for the 2015 award season, which would commence after a pre-disbursement audit of the applicants soon.