BAUCHI PUPILS FORCED TO LEARN UNDER TREES DESPITE ₦87.3MILLION SCHOOL ALLOCATIONS, TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT ALLEGES
The Take It Back Movement (TIB), Bauchi State Chapter, has condemned the continued neglect of Bondi Primary School in Dott, Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, alleging that millions of naira allocated for educational infrastructure at the institution have failed to provide the classrooms needed by pupils.
The group raised the alarm on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, accusing government authorities and contractors of failing to ensure that funds approved for the school’s development translated into functional learning facilities.
In a press release signed by its Bauchi State Coordinator, Nazif Bashi, the movement said pupils at the school were being forced to receive lessons under trees because existing school structures had reportedly collapsed.
According to the group, the children now sit on plastic chairs beneath trees, exposing them to rainfall, harsh weather conditions and other environmental challenges while trying to access basic education.
TIB described the situation as an example of what it called systemic corruption, alleged diversion of public funds and the failure of relevant authorities to provide adequate educational infrastructure for children in the community.
The movement said its review of previous government allocations revealed that ₦8.8 million was paid to a company identified as Z20 Global Services Ltd in 2022 for the construction of a block of three classrooms at Bondi Primary School.
However, the group alleged that the money was diverted to another school, leaving Bondi Primary School without the classroom facilities for which the allocation was reportedly approved.
The movement further alleged that another ₦23.5 million was paid to Crescent Moon Multicon Limited in 2023 for an intervention at the school.
According to TIB, the intervention reportedly resulted only in the provision of plastic chairs, tables and school bags, without addressing the school’s major infrastructure problems or providing the required classroom buildings.
The group also raised concerns over a fresh allocation of ₦55 million in the 2025 Nigerian Government budget for the construction and furnishing of one block of three classrooms at the school.
The project, identified under code ERGP20258105, was reportedly listed under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Despite the successive allocations, TIB claimed that no classroom block had been constructed at Bondi Primary School, leaving pupils to continue receiving lessons in the open.
Bashi said the situation raised serious questions about the management of public resources meant to improve access to quality education, particularly in rural communities where many children already face difficulties accessing adequate learning facilities.
The movement argued that approving funds for school construction without ensuring that the projects are completed defeats the purpose of government intervention programmes and deprives children of the opportunity to learn in a safe environment.
It consequently called on UBEC, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to immediately mobilise contractors and ensure that the ₦55 million classroom project is executed.
TIB also demanded that temporary mobile learning structures be provided at the school within seven days to protect pupils from exposure to harsh weather conditions while awaiting the construction of permanent classrooms.
The group further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged diversion of the ₦8.8 million reportedly paid to Z20 Global Services Ltd in 2022.
It insisted that any public officials or contractors found responsible for the alleged diversion or failure to execute the projects should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
The movement warned that it would not accept continued delays in addressing the condition of the school, announcing plans to mobilise parents, community stakeholders and civil society organisations for peaceful demonstrations if the authorities failed to take action.
According to the group, it would organise demonstrations at relevant government offices if no concrete response was provided within 14 working days.
The allegations have renewed concerns about the condition of public schools in parts of Bauchi State, particularly the gap between government budgetary allocations and the actual delivery of educational infrastructure.
A report by Premium Times on the 2026 education budgets of North-Eastern states showed that Bauchi allocated approximately ₦131.72 billion to education, representing about 15 per cent of its total budget of ₦877.05 billion. The allocation included ₦2.29 billion for the rehabilitation of 1,003 schools. However, budgetary provisions alone do not establish whether specific projects have been completed or whether the funds have reached the intended schools.
The condition reported at Bondi Primary School therefore raises questions about project monitoring, contractor performance and the responsibility of education authorities to ensure that approved funds produce measurable improvements in learning conditions.
Street News Reporters will continue to monitor the situation at Bondi Primary School, including responses from the Bauchi State Government, SUBEB, UBEC and the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as any investigation into the alleged diversion of funds meant for the school’s development.
