The Nigerian Senate has issued a call to action, urging the Federal Ministry of Education, its related agencies, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to prioritise the issue of out-of-school children. The aim is to significantly reduce the number of children deprived of education in the country.
The Senate emphasised the need for the development of new strategies to effectively tackle the problem of out-of-school children. Additionally, they underscored the importance of raising national awareness through sensitisation and advocacy campaigns, highlighting the crucial role of education in the growth and development of the nation.
The motion, sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti of Lagos West, highlighted the alarming prevalence of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Senator Oluranti emphasised the potential social impacts of this crisis, noting that the large number of out-of-school children could become vulnerable to recruitment by criminal gangs, exacerbating security challenges such as banditry and terrorism.
During deliberations, several Senators expressed support for the motion, stressing the timeliness of addressing the issue. They urged relevant agencies to disclose the accurate number of out-of-school children in the country to facilitate targeted interventions.
In response to the motion, the Senate called upon the Judiciary in the 36 states of the Federation to take action towards establishing mobile courts for the enforcement of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act, signaling a commitment to ensuring compliance with existing education laws.
The motion has been referred to the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance for further review and action, demonstrating the Senate’s commitment to addressing the pressing issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
