Members of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, tasked Federal and State Governments with the need to increase the budgetary allocation for education to accommodate three basic education for Nigerian children.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on the ‘Need to curb the number of Out-of-School Children’, sponsored by Hon. Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala.
While noting that Education is a fundamental human right of every child yet, thousands of Nigeria children are being deprived of this basic human right, Hon. Alao-Akala affirmed that education plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty, promoting social and economic development.
In his lead debate, Hon. Alao-Akala observed that the “provisions on Right to Education in Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 though regarded as non-justiciable by Chapter 6 of the Constitution, have been given effect and made justiciable by other domestic laws such as the Compulsory Universal Basic Education Act (UBEA) 2004 and the Child’s Rights Act of 2003.
“The House recalls that the 1991 Convention on the Rights of the Child was domesticated into National Law and passed by the National Assembly in July 2003 as the Child Rights Act of 2003 (CRA).
“The House also recalls that Section 15 of CRA provides that: ‘Every child has the right to free compulsory and universal basic education and it shall be the duty of the Government in Nigeria to provide such education’ while Section 2(1) of the UBEC Act provides that: ‘Every Government in Nigeria shall provide tree, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.
“The House is cognizant that the UNESCO Institute for Statistics approximated 258 million out-of-school children are out of school globally, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia being the most affected regions.
“The House is also cognizant that the issue of out-of-school children is a multifaceted problem with far-reaching consequences.
“The House is further cognizant of the significant role and obligations of parents and guardians in the prompt attendance of their children and wards in school, as well as the consequences of their failure as captured in Section 2(2) and (4) respectively, of the UBEC Act.
“The House is concerned that the actualization of promoting the Right to Education is bedeviled by issues such as low enrolment of children particularly the girl child, low completion of basic education, shortage and poor quality infrastructures in schools, amongst others.
“The House believes that education plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting social and economic development.
“The House also believes that to ensure the efficiency and productivity of children as well as security for a better future for the Nigerian child, swift action need to be taken w address the education crisis,” he urged.
The lawmakers also urged Ministry of Education to ensure the realisation of free basic education for all Nigerian children with no hidden charges.
The House also tasked the 36 State Governments to actualise the right to free basic education in all states in Nigeria and mandate the compulsory enrolment of all children in their States.
In the same vein, the lawmakers urged UBEC to prescribe the minimum standards for basic education, with effective and strict monitoring of the standards and personnel audit of teaching and non-teaching staff.
They also urged State Enforcement Agencies to hold children found loitering during school hours and have their parents face the appropriate consequences.
To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Basic Education and Services to ensure compliance.