Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday said the state government had commenced a process to supply electricity to 172 public schools in the state through solar power.
Fashola made the remark at the presentation of corporate social responsibility awards to 424 individuals, civil society groups and corporate bodies, for their contributions to primary and secondary schools in the state.
He said, “One of the things that have failed primary and secondary schools in Lagos State is regular and uninterrupted electricity supply.
“We have engaged another strategic partnership with the Dfid Engineering Company; we are putting solar panel packs in 172 schools in the first phase.
“When we successfully complete that phase, we will continue school by school. We will ensure that each school has its own power. About 20 of those schools have been completed.
“Government Secondary School, Meiran, has inaugurated its own power; the power serves the school dormitory and hostels.”
Fashola said the “support a school project” became necessary because government now had more schools to manage, than they had in the past when government was doing more of regulation.
He said the state had also increased its education budget to 16.8 per cent in 2015, but still needs more support from its partners.
Fashola added, “Today is a day to say thank you. Some of you I never met, but you have supported our schools. It is not because of me that you have supported our schools, but because of our children.
“The state budget increases year in year out; we have increased education budget from 15 per cent in 2014 to 16.8 in 2015.
“The 2015 budget is facing revenue funding challenges because it is no longer a secret that our oil resources have reduced.
“Many states cannot pay salaries; Lagos is not one of those states that cannot pay salaries.”
(NAN)
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