The Federal Government has earmarked N2,625,000,000 for the take-off of 10 new Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs) in 10 states.
The states are: Kwara, Zamfara, Anambra, Gombe, Delta, Bauchi, Plateau, Sokoto, Enugu, and Cross River.
This is contained in the 2022 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly for consideration.
The new colleges will bring the total number of FSTCs to 16, following presidential approval for the establishment of six of such colleges in 2019 in each of the six geopolitical zones.
According to the budget breakdown, the government also earmarked N1,200,000,000 to provide security infrastructure in existing 104 Unity Schools.
The Federal Ministry of Education’s budget showed that the N1.2 billion would be used to provide perimeter fencing, solar street lights, solar-powered motorised boreholes and closed circuit television (CCTV) in the 104 colleges.
The government also earmarked N1,045,000,000 billion for the purchase of ambulances for 24 Federal Unity Colleges.
It also plans to spend N600,000,000 for the “assessment, construction, upgrading, rehabilitation and equipping of laboratories” in the 104 Unity Schools. The government added that the project would be done in phases.
Last year, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, said the establishment of new colleges was geared towards providing access as well as enhancing available spaces for intending candidates.
The minister explained that the establishment of the new FSTCs would promote the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance.
Also, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, pegged the current carrying capacity of the 110 Unity Colleges at 30,000.
