Muktar Tolani Shagaya, the Representative for Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is emphasizing the need for proper funding of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to combat the challenge of out-of-school children.
In a sponsored bill, he proposed an amendment to the current Act, known as “the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education”, aiming to secure increased funding for basic education to facilitate school attendance for children nationwide.
As the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education Services, Shagaya highlighted the lack of sufficient funds as a hindrance to effective basic education in Nigeria, attributing it to the widespread problem of out-of-school children in the country.
He is pushing for a modification that would raise the allocation for Universal Basic Education from 2% to 4% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, urging his fellow lawmakers to support this amendment for the nation’s benefit.
Explaining the purpose of the bill, he stated, “This Bill seeks to alter the Universal Basic Education, UBEC Act 2004 to increase the share of the Consolidated Revenue Fund that is allocated for Universal Basic Education from 2% to 4%.”
Following endorsements from other legislators backing the bill’s amendment, the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, praised the bill’s initiator for his dedication to the education of Nigerian children and approved its second reading.
The bill has been forwarded to the House Committee on Basic Education Services to prepare and present a public hearing report to the full Committee after the Ramadan break.