FG to inaugurate almajiri schools in March

Abuja – The Federal Government will in March start inaugurating the completed almajiri and special girl-child schools across the country, says an official.

The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, announced this at a meeting with the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and contractors handling the projects.

Wike said some 50 per cent of the contracts had been completed and furnished.

He added that after the inauguration, the schools would be handed over to the state governments.

The minister noted that the remaining 50 per cent of the contracts awarded in the first phase of the project were over 90 per cent completed.

He, however, said that contractors awarded the contracts in the first phase of the schools’ construction but failed to complete them by the end of February would be sanctioned.

He announced that he would embark on a nationwide inspection of the projects next week.

According to him, the projects will be inspected and given full coverage by the independent media to ensure objectivity and unbiased assessment.

On the library projects for the Federal Unity Colleges, Wike said he was impressed at the quality of delivery by most contractors.

“I want to commend the level of work executed by most contractors for these schools.

“I also commend UBEC for the remarkable improvement we have witnessed in terms of supervision and payment of contractors.’’

In his remarks, the acting Executive Secretary of UBEC, Prof. Charles Onocha, assured the minister that UBEC staff and management would continue to work toward attaining the objectives of the government. (NAN)