Reduce incidence of out-of-school children, Wike charges UBEC

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA), Barr Nyesom Wike, has tasked the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to intensify actions to reduce the incidence of out-of-school children.

Wike gave the charge, Thursday in his office when the commission’s secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi with other members, paid him a visit.

Nyesom Wike told the officials to be committed to areas of school construction and renovations as being experienced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under his watch.

He explained that the initiative would help to tackle the menace of some children roaming in the street, constituting threat to security.

On land request tabled by the commission’s officials, Wike said the FCT Administration would not give land to genuine people with proven capacity to commence work on the land.

The minister regretted that most people, after getting land allocation from the administration, would keep it for years without development and resell to others.

“When you request for land and you are given, start work on it, this will help in combating illegal activities on the land, especially hoodlums from converting such areas to their houses,” he said.

Responding, the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi said the visit was to remind the minister about the land request sent to the minister.

Bobboyi begged Wike to help officials of the commission to have a place where they will live after retirement.