Pupils of Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School in Benue State are forced to learn while sitting on bare floors in crumbling, dilapidated classrooms that have become death traps due to collapsing roofs and a severe shortage of desks.
This situation persists despite the state receiving an estimated ₦137.38 billion in Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds between January and September 2026.
The situation of the school was revealed in a report released by civic technology organisation MonITNG, which called on Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and relevant government agencies to urgently intervene in the condition of the school.
According to the report, some classrooms at the school have damaged floors and deteriorating structures, leaving pupils to learn in conditions it described as dangerous and unacceptable.
“The condition of Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School in Benue State deserves urgent attention,” MonITNG said in the report.
“The children are trying to learn in classrooms with damaged floors and deteriorating structures, while some pupils are forced to sit on the bare floor because there are no desks for them.”
The report described the situation as particularly disturbing because the affected pupils are children whose future depends significantly on the quality of education they receive.
“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,” MonITNG said.
MonITNG also raised questions over the management of public funds in the state, citing the reported ₦137.38 billion received by Benue State in FAAC allocations from January to September 2026.
“If confirmed, it raises an important question: how much of the state’s public revenue is being invested in basic education, and why are schools like Okoto-Ugboju LGEA Primary School still in this condition?” the organisation asked.
The report comes amid recurring concerns over the condition of public schools across several Nigerian states, with pupils in some communities continuing to learn in dilapidated classrooms, without adequate furniture and other basic learning facilities.
MonITNG stressed that government revenue should result in visible improvements in essential public services, particularly education and healthcare.
“Public funds should translate into visible improvements in people’s lives, particularly in education, healthcare and other essential services,” MonITNG said.
The organisation urged the Benue State Government, Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), relevant local government authorities and other stakeholders to visit the school and take immediate action.
It called for the renovation of the classrooms, provision of adequate desks and supply of learning materials to enable the pupils to study in a safe and dignified environment.
“This is not about politics. It is about the welfare and future of our children,” MonITNG said.
“Please, let us raise our voices, share these pictures and draw the attention of those who can make a difference. The children of Okoto-Ugboju deserve better. Their education cannot wait.”