Reps Demand Action as 18.3 Million Nigerian Children Remain Out of School

Reps Demand Action as 18.3 Million Nigerian Children Remain Out of School

By Matthew Eloyi

The House of Representatives has called on the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to intensify efforts to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to free and compulsory basic education, in line with national and international legal obligations.

The call followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Obi Aguocha (LP-Abia) during Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising number of out-of-school children.

Aguocha said the motion was anchored on key legal provisions, including Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Section 15 of the Child’s Rights Act, and Section 2 of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.

“The Child’s Rights Act, 2003 and the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 were enacted in partial fulfillment of state duty to provide education for citizens,” he said while leading the debate.

He stressed that both laws “guaranteed the right of every Nigerian child to compulsory basic education from Primary to Junior Secondary School at the expense of the state.”

Aguocha reminded the House that the Federal Government is statutorily required to allocate two percent of its Consolidated Revenue Fund annually to the Universal Basic Education Fund (UBEF), while states are expected to access the funds through counterpart funding.

“To ensure compliance with the law, parents and guardians who refuse to allow their children and wards to be educated by the state are liable to prosecution,” he stated.

The lawmaker, however, lamented that despite the robust legal framework, Nigeria continues to record alarmingly high numbers of out-of-school children.

“There is need for UBEC to provide a supervisory role on the scheme and ensure an impressive enrollment of children for basic education in the country,” he said.

Aguocha blamed the persistent education gap on a combination of factors, including insufficient funding, uneven distribution of resources, poor teacher quality, and socio-cultural barriers such as child labour, early marriage, and gender discrimination against girls.

He painted a grim picture of the current reality, noting that “millions of children of school age are found on the streets, either begging for alms or hawking goods.”

“This,” he warned, “is increasing the number of out-of-school children, a situation that would eventually lead to serious crisis in the nearest future.”

Citing a September 2024 report by UNICEF, Aguocha said Nigeria had 18.3 million children out of school, one of the highest figures globally.

He attributed the worsening crisis to ongoing insurgency in the North East, which has forced schools to shut down and led to the abduction of students, displacement of families, and destruction of educational infrastructure by terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

Following the debate, the House resolved to invite the management of UBEC to present a comprehensive report on the implementation of the Universal Basic Education scheme.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, mandated the House Committee on Basic Education and Services to ensure compliance with the resolution.