By Esther Akaa
Nasarawa citizens have expressed worry over the declining education standards in the state especially in state owned schools; urging the government to raise the standard of education by increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector to halt the decline.
They made the call in Obi Local Government Area ( LGA) during the 2024 Citizens’ Budget town hall consultation for Nasarawa South Senatorial District.
Mrs Jummai Yohana, Coordinator of the Small Holder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria in Nasarawa State, stated that education standards were declining, particularly in rural areas, and that schools lacked teachers and other infrastructure.
Yohana appealed to the government to increase budget allocation in the education sector to address the challenges facing schools in both the rural and urban areas.
“We urge the government to improve the standards of public primary and secondary schools because we cannot afford to send our children to private schools.
“We depend on government schools and these schools are dilapidated and this has become a major challenge to us, especially the mothers.”
She also called on the government to provide farm inputs to women farmers to enable them to produce food in larger quantities for the benefit of all.
Also speaking, Mr Pius Adam, a representative of the Tiv Youth Development Association, advocated for the establishment of a Quality Assurance office to oversee educational projects and ensure productivity.
He also urged the state government to put the welfare of the state’s civil servants first,especially school teachers at all levels for the good of the state.
The National President of Koro Youths Nigeria and Diaspora, Mr Safiyanu Hassan, praised the state government for allowing citizens to participate in the budget process and suggested ideas that will assist the state government in preparing the 2025 budget.
He, however, called on the state government to construct more rural roads to connect them to urban centres to promote growth and development.
Earlier, Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning, Hajiya Munira Abdullahi represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Polinus Felix Wahe, said Citizens’ budgeting was a democratic process that empowers citizens to decide how the resource is allocated in the budget and other government plans.
She explained that the town hall meeting on Citizens’ Budget was in line with the disbursement link indicator II of the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) protocol, which emphasised increased openness and citizens’ engagement in the budget process.
“This Citizens’ town hall engagement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our esteemed governor, Abdullahi Sule to elevate Nasarawa State to a new height of excellence and progress.
“This initiative forms our commitment to connect our people with the current socio-economic, and political in Nigeria and around the globe.
“We are here in Obi to ensure that the voices of Nasarawa Southern Senatorial Zone; Awe, Doma, Keana, Lafia, and Obi LGAs are heard, and contribute to government policies and programmes,” she said.
Krestnews reports that the 2024 consultation theme: “Citizens’ Engagement: A Veritable Means for Transformational Commitment” drew participation from Awe, Doma, Keana, Lafia, and Obi LGAs who represented their various communities, organisations, and groups, among others.