The people of Abia state, particularly those in Ukwa West local government area are currently in confusion as to how the public schools in the area have gone dilapidated as a result of lack of proper maintenance culture in this public sector.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that in Ohanku Ndoki, Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, children are not just going to school they are said to be seeing the raw edge of the effect of alleged total neglect by the state government.
In any case, findings by our reporter revealed that State’s 2024 budget allocated ₦114.75 billion (approximately 20% of the total budget) to education.
This investment, analyst said is significant, as it aligns with the UNESCO recommendation of allocating 15-20% of public expenditure to education. The budget covers personnel costs, overhead expenses, and capital expenditures, demonstrating Abia State’s commitment to improving educational standards and access.
Further findings equally showed that the state’s education budget surpasses the Federal Government of Nigeria’s 2024 education budget by 69.61%.
At Ikwuorie Community Primary School II, Okotoko, the reality of public education is grim.
Located opposite the residence of late Chief Ferguson Okoro, the school has just three classroom blocks — one of which is completely roofless. The remaining blocks offer no relief: no chairs, no desks — just bare, wet floors where both pupils and teachers crouch to teach and learn under a leaking roof.
The pictures from the school speak volumes, showing children seated helplessly on cold, muddy floors as they attempt to write. The only usable classroom offers no protection from rain, making learning a daily battle against the elements.
One of the teachers who spoke to our reporter under the condition of anonymity revealed that explained that the situation has become unbearable.
“Each day that passes we think, quite erroneously that the state government will remember our school but all to no avail.”
Narrating further, the teacher told WITHIN NIGERIA that “as you can see, those parents who value education have pulled out their children to private schools. As you can see, there is no much pupil here. This is because, there is no learning equipment here. Look at it. Ordinary seats and tables, state government cannot provide. Not to talk of renovation of the dilapidated buildings.”
Ikwuorie Community Primary School II, Okotoko is not alone in this alleged neglect and abandonment by the state government.
Few kilometers away, at Comprehensive Secondary School, Ohanku Ndoki, the situation mirrors the same neglect — dilapidated buildings, leaking roofs, and pupils learning in conditions that can only be described as dehumanizing.
A teacher in the school who spoke under the condition of anonymity for fear of victimization told our reporter that that “no teacher in this state is happy seeing this kind of condition. How can Abia of all the states be associated with this kind of total neglect in this critical sector? It is not proper at all.”
Lamenting further the teacher said that “this is despite the Abia State government’s Q4 2024 budget performance report, which claimed that a staggering ₦54 billion was spent on rehabilitating 51 public schools across the state.
“Till today, we the residents and stakeholders in education are still asking where did the money go?
“That is why community leaders and education advocates are calling for urgent rehabilitation of school structures in Ukwa East and indeed the entire state as well as the provision of basic furniture for both pupils and teachers.
“Look at pupils and students at Ohanku Ndoki . For long, these children have been learning the hardest way — without shelter, without chairs.”
Alumni group writes abia govt on school dilapidation
On May 25, 2025 An association of alumni of the Government College Umuahia (GCU) in Abia State and an indigene of one of the college’s host communities have separately petitioned the Abia House of Assembly over alleged violation of the assembly’s orders by the college management.
The association, Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), addressed the petition to the chairpersons of the joint committee on Education, Public Petitions and Judiciary of the Abia assembly.
The petition was jointly signed by the National President of the GCUOBA, Chinedum Ahaiwe and its National Secretary, Nkem Egbuta, a lawyer.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, the State Commissioner for Basic & Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi and the Attorney-General of the state, Ikechukwu Uwanna, were copied in the petition dated 23 June 2025.
Some principal officers of the House, including the Speaker, Emmanuel Emneruwa, and Clerk of the House, JohnPedro Irokansi, were equally copied in the petition.
The second petitioner, Chukwudi Onwudinanti, is an indigene of Emede Community, one of the college’s host communities.
Also an alumnus of the college, Mr Onwudinanti’s petition dated 23 June 2025 was addressed to the Speaker of the assembly, Mr Emeruwa.
Other principal officers of the House were equally copied in the petition.
The GCUOBA, in the petition, accused the fisher Educational Development Trust (FEDT) of acting in violation of the assembly’s orders regarding the matter.
FEDT is a body which reportedly claims it was set up by the GCUOBA to manage the college.
The GCUOBA recalled that the joint committee on the assembly had, while investigating controversies in the college, restrained FEDT from continuing with the process of replacing the outgoing FEDT Board of Trustees (BOT) members and from any further alleged demolition of buildings in the college.
The association also recalled that the committee, on 4 June 2025, further restrained both GCUOBA and FEDT from taking further steps in their plans to inaugurate parallel FEDT BOTs of the college.
“We are compelled to bring to your studied attention, recent untoward happenings in this continuing saga.
“Whereas the GCUOBA had, out of deep respect for constituted authorities as epitomised by the House, suspended its planned, well publicised inauguration of the FEDT Board scheduled for 14th of June 2025, the FEDT in contradistinction, has defiantly continued its transition/inauguration plans, widely announcing, just last Thursday, 17th of June 2025, the conclusion of its nomination process, preparatory to inaugurating its parallel, illegitimate new Board,” the association said in the petition.
It argued that the “FEDT’s egregious irreverence” was not only indicative of its “derision” of the state assembly but also of “its scant regard” for Governor Otti’s office and the entire Abia State Government.
“As a responsible, law-abiding association, fully conscious that your referenced injunctive orders were geared at preserving the peace, we feel obligated to bring this festering, unsavoury development to your attention, for your necessary action,” it stated.
In the second petition, Mr Onwudinanti, through his lawyer, Ugochukwu Zik, told the assembly that the FEDT, in disobedience to the stay-action notice by the House, has now published an undated letter announcing the new trustees.
“We write to formally inform your good office of this desecration of the House order and to call them to order,” he said.
The indigene said there was an imminent threat to a total breakdown of law and order by the action of the FEDT.
“Many old boys are boiling and the indigenes are imminently being pushed to take laws into their hands.
“However, the petitioner believes in the capacity of the Abia Assembly and the Abia State Government to bring sanity to the whole situation by ensuring that these vested interests amongst the old boys do not clandestinely impose themselves over a public asset; that is, Government College Umuahia.”
Abia state government gives residents, indigenes hope on Education
However in its reaction to the mountain of petitions and complaints, the state government few days ago signed a contract agreement with Blue Giraffe Development Limited to construct 20 Smart Schools with state-of the-art digital equipment across the state.
Addressing newsmen after the signing ceremony in Umuahia, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Goodluck Ubochi, said the initiative, was aimed at “digitally empowering students and modernizing the state’s education system.”
He said it marked the official launch of the first phase of Governor Alex Otti’s Smart School initiative.
The Commissioner who signed on behalf of the state, explained that the 20 schools would be strategically located across all 17 local government areas (LGAs), with three additional schools, one in each of the senatorial zones, to ensure equity and accessibility.
He said:“This initiative is not only about infrastructure but a revolution in how learning happens. Abia students must be able to compete globally, and that begins with access to quality digital education,” Ubochi said.
The Commissioner emphasized that no child would be denied access to quality education regardless of ones economic status, stressing that enrollment and teaching will be free and inclusive.
“Whether a child comes from a rich or poor home, they will receive equal treatment and opportunities in these schools,” he added.
He said personnel of the Abia State Homeland Security outfit would be permanently stationed at each school which would house advanced learning technology including Smart Boards, digital registration systems, and surveillance equipment.
Speaking also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Kenechukwu Nwosu, said Government was committed to make Abia a leading state in the education sector.
He warned that any attempt to damage or steal from the facilities would result in immediate prosecution, adding that CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor all
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