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INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE TRACKA JOURNEY INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE TRACKA JOURNEY 01 nequality is perceptibly deep-seated and drawing public attention to developmental projects endemic in Nigeria, permeating through almost in both local and urban communities, ensuring that Ievery part of Africa’s largest country. According the people engage and hold their representatives to the Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index accountable for better service delivery. We also 2018 by Oxfam, Nigeria falls on the last rung (157 of draw attention to public spending in key sectors like 157) of countries making efforts to breach the gap education, health and infrastructure, convinced that between haves and havenots.1 Chiefly, the they are the critical avenues through which impact phenomenon is manifest in the lopsided distribution can be felt beyond the present. of resources, where a few elites have control over the wealth of millions of Nigerians. This trickles In this report, Tracka analyses how inequality Nigeria falls on the last rung through all sectors of the economy. The Public manifests in Nigeria and how our work is educating Health Centres (PHCs), despite allocated citizens, empowering them with information. resources, are in poor state. Primary schools across Through stories from our field experience, we share 157/157 the country are in dire straits with infrastructure narratives on how inequality further impoverishes begging for urgent overhaul. According to many Nigerians and how this is changing, gradually. observers, the poor state of things is connected to the fact that the facilities are not used by the As the general elections beckon, this report is privileged elite but the poor masses. strategic to the polity – for citizens to further Nigeria falls on the last rung understand the state of things and, more The Oxfam Report states that “Government importantly, their inalienable power to demand and (157 of 157) of countries spending on health, education and social protection equally effectuate good governance through the making efforts to breach the is woefully low and often subsidizes the private ballot. Beyond elections, Tracka remains an ever- gap between haves and sector. Civil society has consistently campaigned for important tool to keep tabs on elected officials vis- increased spending.” Since its creation, Tracka has à-vis their campaign promises and government havenots. worked to address critical issues to increase social projects. and economic development in Nigeria. We do this by INEQUALITY IN EDUCATION INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE TRACKA JOURNEY 03 INEQUALITY IN For education, our major focus is limited to primary and secondary levels inline with the focus of many community projects. In 2017, Tracka tracked 128 EDUCATION education projects. While 52 were discovered/rated completed, 76 were uncompleted/abandoned. Meanwhile, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 4, “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” Nigeria has to do more, in budget allocation and execution of projects. ccording to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation A(UNESCO), between 15 to 20% of the government budget should be allocated to education2. However, this is not the case in Nigeria where education remains largely underfunded. In 2018, a total sum of N651.2 billion was allocated to the sector, about 7% of the total budget. Till date, no N651.2bn government in Nigeria has allocated up to the recommended 15 to 20 per cent for education. In a country with a high young population—estimated at over 65 per cent—attention has to be paid to In 2018, a total sum of N651.2 education. Yet, the right actions are not being taken. billion was allocated to the sector, Underfunding of education is manifest in limited about 7% of the total budget. manpower, dearth of infrastructure and lack of teaching aid and materials. INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE TRACKA JOURNEY 04 NOTES FROM THE FIELD Kadna Community Gets New Classrooms: had to learn in classrooms within the community primary school. In many cases, pupils sit on the floor Completed and Satisfactory to learn. Majorly, employed teachers are secondary school graduates – not graduates of training In 2017 when we visited Kadna in Niger state, we colleges or other higher education institutions – wanted to inspect the construction and furnishing of albeit some teachers are National Diploma holders, one block of three classrooms for N9 million--a line which is a rare occurrence. From our findings, the N9m item in the 2016 federal budget. The visiting team ND holders are indigenes who had the opportunity For three classrooms for in a line observed that the indigenes were unaware of the to school outside Kadna and are back to serve their item in the 2016 federal budget. budgetary provision. However, we were informed by hometown. In all, meager fees are paid to these the people that their representative, Honourable teachers termly (i.e. every three month) from Parent Salihu Adamu, had approached the community and Teacher Association (PTA) collections. It is requested for a plot of land for the construction of a disheartening to see the educational aspirations of junior secondary school, which was provided. But Kadna people short-changed by those who we noted that the residents were unaware of the promised to serve them. The existing schools in the federal government provision on the zonal Kadna community were run by intervention projects for the community in the 2016 Despite the budgetary allocation, only one block of budget. the community itself, and are two classrooms was constructed. Speaking with Honourable Adamu on phone, we were made to not provided for as part of a The existing schools in the Kadna community were understand that the budgeted sum of N9 million was dedicated state or federal run by the community itself, and are not provided for insufficient for the construction of the one block of government initiative. as part of a dedicated state or federal government three classrooms. He explained that an additional initiative. There were no classrooms for Junior N3 million was required to complete the Secondary School students in Kadna; as such, they INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE TRACKA JOURNEY 05 construction, but failed to provide details of how he bench meant for two pupils while others sat on the reached this conclusion. bare floor. There was also shortage of staff with only four class teachers, one assistant headteacher The Tracka team further demanded the a n d o n e h e a d t e a c h e r h a n d l i n g t h e construction of more blocks of classrooms from the teaching/learning of 281 pupils. Regardless, the Niger state government through social media and primary school provided elementary education to Tracka Plus, a television production with Channels children in the community as well as neighbouring TV. In January 2018, we received a call from Kadna villages. It must be noted, however, that the poor community that the Niger State Universal Basic state of the school led most of the community Education Board sent a contractor to the community to request land to construct and furnish a block of three classrooms. The project was consequently completed: furnitures supplied while students now learn in a conducive environment. As such, the project is now rated satisfactory by community members. N30M Allocation for Ogun School: 4:281 Completed but Unsatisfactory There was also shortage of staff On September 20, 2017, Tracka team paid a visit to Ipokia Local Government Primary School, Akere, with only four class teachers, Ogun state. About half of the school population one assistant headteacher and (students from three out of its six classes) were learning under a Mango tree. The classrooms were one headteacher handling the in bad shape, broken roofs, missing windows and teaching/learning of 281 pupils. doors, bare and sandy floor, all exposing pupils to health hazards. There was also a dearth of furniture as about seven pupils squeezed themselves on a INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE TRACKA JOURNEY 06 children farther from their community; some aware of the project. This story was Zango Secondary School: Unexecuted take thirty-minute ferry rides across the published on our blog and also in the Nation ocean and go as far as Apapa and Badagry Newspaper. The news went viral on social Project in Lagos state. The only private school in the media and drew the attention of the state community, built by the Redeemed Christian governor. The Ogun State Universal Basic Zango Secondary School, located in Church of God, is beyond the reach of many Education Board queried the head teacher Kangiwa, Kebbi state, has experienced parents in the community. and asked him to appear before a panel. exponential growth in student population, Turned out, the implementation of the leading to heavy pressure on the existing Tracka team sensitised the school and school project began immediately. The infrastructure. Classes were overcrowded as community on the proposed school project project has been completed even though we students sit on the floor. To reach more which is the ‘Renovation of Blocks of 8 are still not convinced that the students are students, the dining hall was even converted Classrooms in Akere, Agosasa, Ajegunle learning within best conditions as into a classroom. and Idogo’ for N30M. This could, in turn, be classrooms are still insufficient. interpreted as the renovation of a block of On March 19, 2018, Tracka organised an two classrooms for four schools, at a sum of It must also be stated that the budget item to advocacy campaign by reaching out to the seven million and five hundred thousand renovate blocks of 8 Classrooms in Akere, principal and staff of the school in order to naira per block.