Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, are at loggerheads over the deplorable conditions of public schools, particularly primary and secondary schools in the state.

Amaewhule, while addressing lawmakers, decried the deplorable conditions of schools across the state, attributing the development to abandonment by the executive arm of the government.

He said, “Public Schools in Rivers State particularly at the primary and secondary level are generally in deplorable condition. It’s a fact. The reason is because of abandonment by people who are supposed to be doing the needful.

“As at yesterday the House committee Chairman on Education found out that one teacher is teaching two classes. Two classes are in one classroom being taught by one teacher, primary one 1 and 2.

“So, the teacher will teach primary 1 a little while primary 2 is listening to primary 1 class. Then primary one will stop listening while the teacher will teach primary 2. Maybe they are blocking their ears and they are in the same classroom, no toilet, no electricity, yet that school is sharing fence with the PHED headquarters, no electricity, no security.

“That same school is directly opposite the police headquarters, meanwhile vandals have taken over the school. They destroy the little facilities they have there. The worst of it is that upon what we said when this motion came up nothing has happened”.

Amaewhule lamented that despite the complaints of the Assembly through its resolutions the executive arm led by Fubara had refused to remedy the situation.

He said, “The Rivers State Executive Council has not done anything. They have nothing to remedy the situation. This is a sad commentary. Something has to be done for our schools, for our children, for the future of this state.

“Our primary and secondary schools cannot remain like this. They cannot remain without teachers. When the last administration was leaving they plan for the employment of people, I think 10,000 across the state took place, interviews. What has happened?

“People were not employed, but when it is time for protest funds will come for people to go and protest. When it is time to employ teachers and make teachers to be in the classroom there will be no money. We cannot continue to keep quiet.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms while our children continue to suffer, while teachers continue to cry. How will anyone believe that in the year 2025 in a state like Rivers State one teacher will be teaching two classrooms under one roof?

“How would anyone believe a school that is very close to the Government House in the year 2025 that pedestrians will be called to come and teach people because there are no teachers? It is an abomination, it is an aberration and it is unacceptable. Something has to be done. We will not allow this indolence to continue.”

Amaewhule insisted that the assembly would not allow the sorry state of schools to continue adding that the lawmakers must act on complaints from parents.

The speaker said there was no reason for such abandonment disclosing that the former Sole Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok Ibas left over N600bn in the coffers of the state.

He said, “We are the only people mandated by law to fight for our parents. Parents are crying. The complaints we are getting, the pictures they are sending to us are coming from parents from Township School 2.

“The other day somebody went to a school in Etche and saw children inside the classroom with even weed on their roof. How the weed went to their roof and they are learning under I don’t imagine. I’m trying to remember the name of that community now. It is appalling.

“Is it that we don’t have funds in the state? Of course we have! As at the time the administrator, Ibas was leaving, he left over N600 billion in the accounts of Rivers State. Over N600 billion by October, can’t such funds be used to remedy the situation in our schools?”

But Fubara while replying Amaewhule said that improving the poor state of education in Rivers State was a top priority of his administration, announcing that the sector would receive the largest allocation in the 2026 budget.

The governor spoke while declaring open the 123/124 combined quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.

He admitted that many schools across the state were in bad shape but stressed that the decay did not happen overnight.

According to him, the deterioration predated his government and was one of the major issues used by opponents during the 2023 election campaigns.

The governor said his team was working strategically to reverse the decline, noting that his background in public administration guided his approach to planning and reform.

On healthcare, the governor pointed to the ongoing upgrade of zonal hospitals and other interventions in the healthcare workers welfare as evidence of improved service delivery in the sector.

Speaking on employment, Fubara said the government remained committed to creating jobs but insisted that recruitment, including the anticipated 10,000 openings, would be based on the needs of the state, adding that the exercise would not be politicised.

Monday’s meeting, which was the 3rd and 4th combined session of the year and the fourth since he assumed office, also provided an opportunity for Fubara to commend traditional rulers for their role in resolving the political impasse that once threatened stability in the state. (The Nation)