By Frank Ulom
GUSAU (CONVERSEER) – MonitNG, a civic technology platform, has raised alarm over the deplorable condition of Gada Biyu Model Primary School in Madawaki Ward, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, describing the situation as “nothing short of a scandal”.
The group said the school currently has no desks or chairs, forcing pupils to sit on bare concrete floors in overcrowded, dilapidated classrooms. It noted that multiple classes are often merged into a single room, creating an undignified learning environment that undermines the very purpose of education.
“This is a dusty, uncomfortable, undignified setting that no child should endure,” MonitNG said in a statement addressed to Governor Dauda Lawal. “The situation persists despite the Zamfara State Government’s repeated allocation of enormous sums for education.”
Huge Allocations, Little Impact
In the 2025 “Rescue Budget 2.0” totalling ₦545 billion, the Zamfara State Government earmarked ₦79.6 billion — about 14 percent — for education. Similarly, in 2024, ₦51.3 billion was allocated to the sector. In addition to state funding, Zamfara has also received federal grants through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and international support from agencies such as UNICEF, USAID and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to strengthen basic education.
Despite these substantial resources, MonitNG said schools like Gada Biyu show no trace of meaningful investment, with children still learning on the floor and basic infrastructure absent.
Concerns Over Spending Priorities
The group criticised what it described as “misaligned priorities” by the state government. It cited reports of extravagant travel and hospitality expenses amounting to over ₦400 million for foreign and local trips, private security and related costs. Although the government has denied or contested these claims, MonitNG said such expenditures are starkly out of touch with the needs of schools struggling to provide even basic learning conditions.
“This is not just mismanagement; it is a failure of political will and accountability,” the organisation said. “Child after child in Zamfara is having their right to decent education violated — not because money isn’t available, but because priorities are misplaced.”
Call for State of Emergency in Education
MonitNG urged Governor Dauda Lawal to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara’s education sector and ensure that allocated funds are channelled towards tangible improvements on the ground.
It called for immediate action to furnish schools, repair classrooms, and guarantee that no child sits on a bare floor to learn.
“Zamfara’s promise for tomorrow depends on what we do for our children today,” the statement concluded.
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