…Seeks 20% budgetary allocation to education
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has described Nigeria’s over 20 million out-of-school children as a time bomb requiring immediate solution.
Shettima, who spoke at an international conference on girl child education in Nigeria, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said if not addressed, the menace poses a threat to the children’s peers in future
Shettima said Nigeria’s statistics of out-of-school children was a stark reminder of the urgency of actions needed to curb the rising rate.
Checks show that states in the North-West and North-East face the highest out-of-school rates, especially Kebbi, Zamfara, and Bauchi.
Statistics show that more than 60 percent of primary school-age children are not in school, with Kebbi at a staggering 64.8%. The secondary school numbers are similarly alarming with Bauchi at 66.75% Kebbi at 63.8% and Jigawa, at 62.6%.
Shettima noted that the problem requires urgent remedy, particularly in the northern part of Nigeria. He further noted that education financing remains a critical aspect of the strategy, added that there has been a significant increase in education expenditure, in the last few years.
“For example, in 2022 states spent N1 trillion on education, representing 12 percent of total expenditures. By 2024, states committed N2.4 trillion to education, while the federal government allocated N2.2 trillion. This brings the combined total allocation to N4.6 trillion.
“Although States have 14% of their budgets dedicated to education, we must aim higher. Our campaign to see 15 to 20% of the State budget allocated to education is not just a target, but a necessity as it is the surest way to guarantee the future of our children and our nation”.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, in his remarks, said the Government was set to announce an approved framework that will ensure it delivers the mandate of quality education for the country.
