The Federal Government has proposed to spend N116 billion as the total investment cost for the education sector in the 1st NIP 2010 – 2013.
The Planning Minister Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, who disclosed this at a 5- days Workshop on Capacity Building for Effective Utilisation of Education Intervention Funds in Kaduna said the First National Implementation Plan (NIP 2010 – 2013) of NV 20:2020 has accorded a top priority to the Education Sector.
Dr Usman explained that education falls under the first strategy of the 1st NIP and the thrust is ‘building a productive, competitive and functional human resource base for economic growth and development.
Represented by the acting secretary to the Commission, Alhaji Dogara Shehu, the minister highlighted that, the Vision 1st NIP strategy is to provide a process that will create a platform for success by urgently and immediately addressing the most debilitating constraints to Nigeria’s growth and competitiveness.
He added that the basic education projects have taken 3 slots out of the total nine (9) priority projects listed in the 1st NIP, representing 9.46 percent of the total investment plan for the sector as proposed.
Projects to be addressed in the plan for the sector are; construction of classroom blocks at all levels of education. Training and retraining of teachers for the 9 year basic education curriculum and the national campaign on access, pointing out that, all is aimed at achieving the strategic targets set for education in the 1st NIP.
National Planning Commission organised the Workshop with the active collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUNDS) in order to build capacities of Officials of State Universal Education Boards (SUBEBs) to develop action plans and access the UBEC/TET intervention funds to enhance the development of basic and tertiary education in various states of the federation.
In another development, Dr. Usman has urged lawmakers to assist their respective in passing laws that would improve the living conditions of the citizenry. He made the call in an interaction with federal lawmakers from Kano State.
He said the idea of such interactions is to provide a forum to share knowledge and give guidance in terms of coordination in the pursuit of rapid development for states.
Responding, some of the lawmakers commended the Minister for his foresight and for always reaching out to members of other arms of government on developmental issues.
Guest at the occasion included the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na Abba, Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, Faruk Lawan and Mustapha Dawaki, Bashir Baballe, Usman Adamu Gaya, Hon Aminu Suleiman Garo, Engr. Mohammad Ali Wudil, Aliyu Madaki Gini and Nasir Ali Ahmed.
The forum provided an opportunity for formal interaction between the representatives of the state at the federal level both from the executive and legislative arms irrespective of party interest where issues and challenges confronting the state would be discussed and solutions be proffered collectively.
