Pupils of Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School in Benue State are being forced to learn in substandard conditions, with crumbling classrooms and a severe shortage of desks. The school's infrastructure has become a death trap, with collapsing roofs and damaged floors. This situation has been ongoing despite the state receiving significant funding from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). The state government has been urged to intervene and address the condition of the school.
According to a report released by civic technology organisation MonITNG, Benue State received an estimated ₦137.38 billion in FAAC funds between January and September 2026. The report questioned how much of the state's public revenue is being invested in basic education, given the condition of schools like Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School. MonITNG stressed that government revenue should result in visible improvements in essential public services, particularly education and healthcare.
The report described the situation at Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School as particularly disturbing, with pupils learning in conditions that are dangerous and unacceptable. Some classrooms have damaged floors and deteriorating structures, leaving pupils to learn in an environment that is not conducive to learning. The report also noted that some pupils are forced to sit on the bare floor because there are no desks available.
MonITNG called on Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and relevant government agencies to urgently intervene in the condition of the school. The organisation urged the government to renovate the classrooms, provide adequate desks, and supply learning materials to enable pupils to study in a safe and dignified environment. The report emphasized that this is not a political issue, but rather a matter of the welfare and future of the children.
The situation at Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School is not an isolated incident, as concerns have been raised over the condition of public schools across several Nigerian states. Pupils in some communities continue to learn in dilapidated classrooms without adequate furniture and other basic learning facilities. MonITNG's report highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
MonITNG's report also emphasized that every child, regardless of their community or family background, deserves a safe classroom, a proper desk, and an environment where learning can take place with dignity. The organisation urged stakeholders to visit the school and take immediate action to address the situation. The report's findings have sparked calls for urgent action to address the condition of public schools in Benue State.
The Benue State Government, Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and relevant local government authorities have been urged to take immediate action to address the situation at Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School. The government has been called upon to prioritize the welfare and future of the children and take concrete steps to improve the condition of public schools in the state.
Key points
- Benue State received ₦137.38 billion in FAAC funds between January and September 2026.
- Pupils at Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School learn in dilapidated classrooms with damaged floors and no desks.
- MonITNG has called for urgent intervention to address the condition of the school and improve the learning environment for pupils.
