A sum of N2,625,000,000 has been earmarked by the Federal Government for the new Federal science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs) in 10 States.
According to the 2022 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly for consideration, the 10 States are, Kwara, Zamfara, Anambra, Gombe, Delta, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto, Enugu, and Cross River.
The Presidential approval for the new institutions in each of the six geopolitical zones will bring the total number of FSTCs to 16 in the country.
Recall that the Education Minister of State, Emeka Nwajiuba said, last year, that the initiative of the new colleges was tailored towards access provision and enhancement of available spaces for intending candidates.
“The establishment of the new FSTCs would promote the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance” the minister explained
The Federal Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono also said that the capacity of the existing 110 Unity Colleges is 30,000
Meanwhile, in the budget breakdown, the government has also earmarked for security infrastructure in the existing 104 Unity Schools, a sum of N1,200,000,000.
According to the budget, N1.2 billion is set aside for the provision of perimeter fencing, solar street lights, solar-powered motorised boreholes, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) in the 104 Unity Colleges.
N1,045,000,000 billion was also earmarked for the purchase of ambulances for 24 Federal Unity Colleges, while N600,000,000 is for the “assessment, construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and equipping of laboratories” in the 104 Unity Schools.
The government said that the project would be done in phases.
