Worried by UNICEF report that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in Sub-Saharan Africa and the highest in the world, the House of Representatives has urged FCT administration to implement the provisions of the Universal Basic Education Commission Act 2004 and the Child’s Rights Act 2003.
The House made this call while debating the motion titled Need to Reinforce the Provisions of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 in the Federal Capital Territory and Other Parts of the Country.’ The motion was sponsored and moved by Hon Bamidele Salam, at the plenary on Thursday.
Hon. Salam, represents Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.
Hon. Salam stated that Section 15 of the Child’s Rights Act 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.”
Salam also cited Section 2 of the UBEC Act which provides that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary and that every parent shall ensure that his or her child or ward attends and completes his primary and junior secondary school education.
He further said that Section 2(3) of the Act compels stakeholders in education in a Local Government Area to enforce the provisions of Section 2, thus ensuring that every parent or person who has the care and custody of a child sends such child for his primary and junior secondary school education.
