FENRAD demands breakdown of N54bn spent on public schools in Abia State

Stanley Ihedigbo

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has demanded a detailed breakdown of the ₦54 billion reportedly allocated to public schools in 2024 in the last Quarter of 2024.

According to the Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, they have officially submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Honourable Commissioner of Basic & Secondary Education, Abia State, ministry of Education, demanding the breakdown details.

He said that the request comes after a review of the Q4 2024 Financial Audit Report of the state.

“As a civil society organization dedicated to good governance, transparency, and accountability, FENRAD believes that public expenditure, especially in education, should be open to public scrutiny. Transparency in the management of education funds is critical to ensuring that financial resources allocated to public schools genuinely improve learning conditions for students and teachers.

“In the FOI request, FENRAD is specifically seeking information on the list of public schools that benefited from the ₦54 billion allocation, including their names and locations. Furthermore, the organization is requesting a detailed breakdown of the expenditure, specifying how the funds were spent on renovations, new constructions, procurement of educational materials, and teacher recruitment.

“Additionally, FENRAD is demanding full disclosure of the procurement process, including details on contractors awarded projects, contract sums, project timelines, and completion reports. This information is crucial in assessing whether the funds were spent effectively and whether the projects met quality and completion standards. The organization is also requesting impact assessment reports that ascertained whether there’s improvement in school infrastructure, student performance, and teacher effectiveness”, he explained.

The human rights activist further said that under the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011, the Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education is required to respond within seven (7) working days.

“Despite significant budget allocations, many public schools in Abia State continue to experience dilapidated infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of learning materials and trained teachers. Concerns over mismanagement, inflated contracts, abandoned projects, and lack of accountability have been repeatedly raised by education stakeholders. FENRAD believes that demanding transparency will help expose corruption, prevent financial waste, and ensure that allocated funds serve their intended purpose.

“If the Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education faill is obliged to provide the requested information.

“FENRAD urges the Abia State Government to demonstrate a commitment to accountability and good governance by making public expenditure records accessible and ensuring that funds allocated to education are properly utilized,” he stated.