Governors move to declare emergency on education
Following the consistent decline in standards of education in the country, the thirty six state governors have resolved to declare a state of emergency in the basic sector soon.
To this extent, state governments are to commit at least 15percent of their annual budgetary allocations to revamping education in their respective domains.
Briefing newsmen after the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Edo state Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, said the decision was sequel to an earlier presentation made by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to NEC yesterday which dealt on National Education Policy, Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward.
Shuaibu listed areas of focus to include out-of-school children, promoting adult literacy and special needs education, reviving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
While they await the outcome of a comprehensive recommendation, they would also focus on strengthening basic education, prioritizing teacher education, capacity building and professional development, ensuring quality and access in tertiary education, promoting ICT in education, boosting library services in education among others.
He said, “ NEC had initially set up an Ad-hoc Committee on the Revival of the Education Sector in Nigeria to review and submit recommendations. The committee submitted an interim report to the Council today.
“The Committee observed that a multi-frontal approach is required to tackle the various factors militating against the achievement of the nation's educational objectives, In view of the multi-dimensional nature of the crisis in the education sector.
“The committee strongly recommends that; the FG, States and LGs collaborate to vigorously implement, and sustain action on the 10 pillars of the Ministerial Strategic Plan developed by the Federal Ministry of Education.
“All Governors are to declare a state of emergency in the education sectors of their respective states and demonstrate their commitment to revamping education.
“FG and States are to allocate a minimum of 15 percent of their budgets to education in order to revolutionalise the sector”.
Also at the briefing, Bauchi state governor said the governors supported the conditions set by the Federal Government for states to access the Paris club refund, saying some of his colleagues ought to justify the previous allocations to merit more.
According to him, there was no wisdom in owing workers’ salaries when the initial refunds was meant to address such challenges.
“The federal government was right in placing those conditions, it is unnecessary when you are getting such huge amount of money and there are things of owing workers salary, that issue must be addressed and if a state does not meet that the federal government will be right to hold on to the funds until they get commitment of all states to meet this basic responsibility,”he stated.
Asked if the national minimum wage and controversies associated with it was tabled at the NEC meeting, Abubakar said states have not taken a consensus decision yet as against comments credited to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige that states settled for N20,700.
He said the process of arriving at a consensus benchmark for wages was still ongoing and their decision will be relayed to the committee soonest.
“Unfortunately that was not discussed at the National Economic Council meeting, secondly governors are part and parcel of the negotiation, the governors have not taken a decision either way because it’s a negotiating process and it’s still ongoing, we are represented by six governors in the committee, it’s a work in progress and am sure we will get to the promised land,”he stated.
Similarly, Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire alleged that terrorism in the North East was still militating against achieving a polio free certification by the global health community.
He however noted that the country has remained polio free in the past two years, a feat that was made possible through commitment by various stakeholders to stamp out the scourge.
To this extent, state governments are to commit at least 15percent of their annual budgetary allocations to revamping education in their respective domains.
Briefing newsmen after the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Edo state Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, said the decision was sequel to an earlier presentation made by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to NEC yesterday which dealt on National Education Policy, Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward.
Shuaibu listed areas of focus to include out-of-school children, promoting adult literacy and special needs education, reviving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
While they await the outcome of a comprehensive recommendation, they would also focus on strengthening basic education, prioritizing teacher education, capacity building and professional development, ensuring quality and access in tertiary education, promoting ICT in education, boosting library services in education among others.
He said, “ NEC had initially set up an Ad-hoc Committee on the Revival of the Education Sector in Nigeria to review and submit recommendations. The committee submitted an interim report to the Council today.
“The Committee observed that a multi-frontal approach is required to tackle the various factors militating against the achievement of the nation's educational objectives, In view of the multi-dimensional nature of the crisis in the education sector.
“The committee strongly recommends that; the FG, States and LGs collaborate to vigorously implement, and sustain action on the 10 pillars of the Ministerial Strategic Plan developed by the Federal Ministry of Education.
“All Governors are to declare a state of emergency in the education sectors of their respective states and demonstrate their commitment to revamping education.
“FG and States are to allocate a minimum of 15 percent of their budgets to education in order to revolutionalise the sector”.
Also at the briefing, Bauchi state governor said the governors supported the conditions set by the Federal Government for states to access the Paris club refund, saying some of his colleagues ought to justify the previous allocations to merit more.
According to him, there was no wisdom in owing workers’ salaries when the initial refunds was meant to address such challenges.
“The federal government was right in placing those conditions, it is unnecessary when you are getting such huge amount of money and there are things of owing workers salary, that issue must be addressed and if a state does not meet that the federal government will be right to hold on to the funds until they get commitment of all states to meet this basic responsibility,”he stated.
Asked if the national minimum wage and controversies associated with it was tabled at the NEC meeting, Abubakar said states have not taken a consensus decision yet as against comments credited to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige that states settled for N20,700.
He said the process of arriving at a consensus benchmark for wages was still ongoing and their decision will be relayed to the committee soonest.
“Unfortunately that was not discussed at the National Economic Council meeting, secondly governors are part and parcel of the negotiation, the governors have not taken a decision either way because it’s a negotiating process and it’s still ongoing, we are represented by six governors in the committee, it’s a work in progress and am sure we will get to the promised land,”he stated.
Similarly, Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire alleged that terrorism in the North East was still militating against achieving a polio free certification by the global health community.
He however noted that the country has remained polio free in the past two years, a feat that was made possible through commitment by various stakeholders to stamp out the scourge.
Governors move to declare emergency on education
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