The Grassroots Center for Rights and Civic Orientation (GRACO) has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the six Area Councils to urgently renovate dilapidated public primary schools in rural communities across the territory.
The organisation said pupils in some schools were forced to sit on bare floors due to a lack of desks and chairs, while damaged roofs and ceilings exposed them to harsh weather conditions and other safety risks.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, GRACO’s Executive Director, Armsfree Ajanaku, expressed concern over the deplorable condition of public schools in Makanima, near Giri along Airport Road in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), and Kigbe community in Yebu Ward, Kwali Area Council.
According to the organisation, the roof of LEA Primary School, Makanima, has been blown off, leaving the building exposed, while damaged ceiling boards hang loosely over classroom spaces.
It added that pupils in Kigbe community were compelled to sit on bare floors, with some using pieces of planks in place of desks.
GRACO said the conditions persisted despite repeated reports to the relevant authorities, alleging that neither the FCTA nor the affected Area Councils had taken adequate steps to address the situation.
The organisation described the neglect as unacceptable, stressing that every Nigerian child has a right to basic education under the Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.
It cited Section 2(1) of the Act, which provides for free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.
GRACO also questioned the implementation of the ₦30.9 billion approved by the FCT Administration in February 2024 for the rehabilitation of public schools across the territory.
It recalled that the FCT Universal Basic Education Board had previously acknowledged pressure on schools in Kwali, Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kuje following increased enrolment.
The organisation therefore called for accountability, demanding details of the schools rehabilitated under the programme and the government’s plans for facilities that remain in poor condition.
It noted that the conditions in Makanima and Kigbe suggested that several rural communities were yet to benefit from the government’s school rehabilitation interventions.
While acknowledging that primary education falls constitutionally within the responsibilities of Area Councils, GRACO urged the FCTA and the six councils to work together rather than allow disputes over responsibility to delay interventions.
The group specifically called on the FCT Administration, through its Education Secretariat and the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, to immediately renovate the schools in Makanima and Kigbe and provide adequate desks and chairs for pupils.
It also urged the chairmen of AMAC and Kwali Area Council to visit the affected communities without delay and engage with parents, teachers and community leaders to establish their needs.
Furthermore, GRACO called for a comprehensive and transparent audit of public primary schools across the six Area Councils to identify unsafe learning environments and prioritise urgent repairs.
It asked the FCTA to publish an updated status report on its school rehabilitation programme, detailing completed projects and schools awaiting intervention.
The organisation also urged citizens to demand measurable commitments on basic education from political parties and candidates campaigning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It said improving basic education must be treated as a priority, given its importance to children’s development, responsible citizenship and economic empowerment.
