The Plateau Government says it allocated N5.89 billion to improve infrastructure at the Plateau State University, Bokkos. The Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Temwakat Weli, made the disclosure in Jos on Wednesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The commissioner said the figure was part of the N11.88 billion committed to the education sector in the 2017 budget.

Weli said that the allocation was due to the determination of Gov. Simon Lalong to improve the university after several years of neglect by the previous administration. She said that the money was meant for completion of ongoing projects in the university as well as initiation of new ones. According to her, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, was allocated N463 million while College of Education, Gindiri, got N502 million.

She said that other tertiary institutions were not left out in the government’s determination to reposition the sector as College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Kurgwi, was allocated N272.4 million. “In the same vein, the sum of N1.8 billion is provided as matching grant and provision of infrastructure to the State Universal Basic Education Board. “It is meant for construction of classrooms and the upgrading of educational facilities in the junior secondary and primary schools across the state,” she added.

Weli explained that part of the N11.88 billion, representing 16.95 per cent of the state capital expenditure, would also be used for the renovation, construction, furnishing and equipping of constructed and renovated schools. She also said that N1 billion was meant for renovation/building of 15 secondary schools, translating to five in each senatorial zone.

The commissioner further said N300 million was budgeted for renovation/building of three science schools, with one in each senatorial zone. “N500 million will be used for furnishing and equipping of constructed schools while N245 million will be used for renovation/building of structures at Government Technical College, Bukuru,” Weli explained.

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Plateau to spend N5.8bn on infrastructure at state varsity