Kaduna Students Sit On Bare Floor, Despite Billions Of Naira Spent On Education

By Miracle Okoro

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Monitor Initiative for Transparency in Governance (MonITNG), has exposed the worsening state of public education in Kaduna State, revealing that pupils in the state capital, Kaduna city, are being forced to learn under deplorable conditions.

In the report released on Thursday by the organization via its X handle (@monitng), revealed that its monitoring team, which visited Government Secondary School, Cikaji in Sabongari Local Government Area of the state, stated that what they discovered is heartbreaking with students learning on bare floors inside dilapidated classrooms.

“We visited Government Secondary School, Cikaji in Sabongari Local Government Area of Kaduna State and what we found is heartbreaking. Students are forced to sit on bare floors and stand throughout lessons in overcrowded classrooms.

“The learning environment is deplorable, leaking roofs, falling ceiling boards, cracked walls on the verge of collapse. These conditions are unsafe and unfit for learning, yet hundreds of students gather daily with hope and determination to be educated”, the report stated.

However described the situation as shameful that public schools in the state are still in such appalling condition, despite billions of Naira claimed to have been invested into education over the years.

“It is shameful that in 2025, public schools in Kaduna State are still in such appalling condition, despite repeated claims by the state government that billions of naira have been invested in education over the years. What exactly is the impact of these investments if students still study in classrooms without chairs, desks, or proper roofing? The disconnect between official narratives and the reality on the ground is alarming,” the organisation noted.

The report also criticized the government that despite the “support from the Federal Government and International donor partners”, there is no improvement in schools in the state.

“With support from the Federal Government and international donor partners aimed at improving education infrastructure and quality across the state, there is no justification for schools like GSS Cikaji to remain in ruins.

“These students deserve better safe classrooms, proper learning materials, and an environment that encourages learning and growth”.

Also highlighted the importance of education as the foundation of development, but yet receives inadequate attention across the Kaduna State, while also calling on the State Governor, Sani Uba to immediately restore dignity to public schools across the state, the organisation also calls for a state of emergency across schools in rural and low-income communities.

“Education is the foundation of development, yet it continues to receive inadequate attention in underserved communities across Kaduna State. We call on Governor Sani Uba to urgently prioritize education and take immediate action to restore dignity to public schools.

“There is an urgent need to declare a state of emergency across schools in rural and low-income communities to ensure that every child has access to a safe and conducive learning environment,” It stated.

Meanwhile, the organisation also called on the Sabongari Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jamilu Albani to take quick step to address the deplorable state of schools within his jurisdiction.

“We also call on the Sabongari Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jamilu Albani, to rise to the occasion and address the deplorable condition of schools within his jurisdiction. No child should be denied quality education because of poor infrastructure or government neglect. The future of Kaduna State depends on the education of its children, they deserve classrooms, not crumbling walls,” It added

However, according to figures confirmed by National Reports on the Kaduna State Government official website (www.kdsg.gov.ng), it was reported that the cost of estimated cost of all the programmes for the Annual Operational Plan (AoP) for 2025 is Seventy-six billion, five hundred and seventy-eight million, nine hundred and thirty-seven thousand, seven hundred and two naira, twenty-eight kobo.

“The cost was estimated from detailed activities for actualising each programme, which were later prioritised to fit within the budget ceiling of the sector for the plan period. The
estimated cost of all the programmes for the AoP for 2025 is Seventy-six billion, five hundred and seventy-eight million, nine hundred and thirty-seven thousand, seven hundred and two naira, twenty-eight kobo”.