Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has revealed that nearly 4,000 substandard schools have been uncovered across the state.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, the 17th of July, 2025, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, the governor described the affected schools as lacking qualified teachers and being unfit for learning.
He, however, did not disclose the government’s immediate response to the situation.
Tersoo explained that the state had taken steps to address the gap in education quality by recruiting 9,700 qualified teachers into primary schools. He said the move was part of a broader effort to reposition the sector and improve learning conditions.
The governor also disclosed that in the 2023/2024 academic session, the government covered examination fees for thousands of students sitting for key national exams.
Specifically, 8,119 students were sponsored for the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), 8,979 for the National Examination Council (NECO), and 1,547 for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
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Highlighting efforts in higher education, Tersoo stated that the administration had cleared 38 months of earned allowances owed to staff of the Moses Adasu University, formerly Benue State University.
He quoted the governor as saying, “The present administration has stabilised the educational sector in the state with its various interventions, which is the reason our tertiary institutions have been having uninterrupted sessions since this administration came into office. For instance, the backlog of 38 months of earned allowance owed to staff of the State University has been cleared.”
He continued, “It will also interest you to know that the present administration has recruited 9700 qualified primary school teachers to reposition our schools. Also, the government has identified 4,000 schools that are substandard and not good for learning and do not have qualified teaching personnel.
“In the 2023/2024 academic session, this administration paid the WAEC fees for 8,119 students, NECO fees for 8,979 students, and also NABTEB fees for 1,547 students.”
Governor Alia also confirmed that his administration had obtained a license to establish a State University of Technology in Ihugh, located in the Vandeikiya Local Government Area.