But for Malala Yousafzai,the youngest Nobel Laureate, many Nigerians didn’t know and probably would never have known, that the Nigerian Senate that they so much despise, had effected a radical and fundamental amendment to the Universal Basic Education Commission Act of 2004. The landmark bill sponsored by Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko,Chairman Senate Committee on Basic Education seeks to guarante free and compulsory basic primary education to every child in Nigeria,from nine to twelve years.The amendment also increased budgetary allocation to the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), from the current two per cent to three per cent and reduced the matching grant by States from 50% to 10%.
It is not surprising that Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education , whose campaign for education of women, pitched her against the Taliban,that is fiercely opposed to same, weighed in because weeks before she had asked then Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to declare a State of Emergency in the Educational Sector.But unknown to Malala, was that the Senate was “cooking” a mother of all amendment, that will to a very large extent address one major problem area of education- funding. Without noise,Wamakko and the Senate have effectively restructured the funding arrangement,that will put money where it is needed.
In describing the amendment as “good news from Nigeria”,Malala’s unassailable credentials places her in the pole position to make the well informed comment,that confirmed the tremendous work that has gone into the new look UBEC Act. On her twitter handle she wrote”Good news from Nigeria.Thank you to @bukolasaraki and the Senate!”. In the more formal reaction,the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Malala Fund, Philippa Lei, wrote, “Malala Fund welcomes the recent amendment to Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Act, extending the right to free education from nine years to 12 years for all children.Nigeria is the richest country in Africa, but has more girls out of school than any other country in the continent. Studies are clear that education of girls through senior secondary school grows economies, reduces conflict and improves health. Nigeria has the resources to educate girls and transform the country. We hope this amendment signals that Nigeria’s leaders are serious about education,” the Malala Fund stated factly.
Malala echoed the views of most international organizations and educationists that the Nigerian Education System is in deep crisis,due to poor funding. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), “Forty per cent of Nigerian children aged 6-11 do not attend any primary school with the Northern region recording the lowest school attendance rate in the country, particularly for girls. Despite some significant increase in net enrollment rates in recent years, it is estimated that about 4.7 million children of primary school age are still not in school.Another challenge in Nigeria is the issue of girls’ education,which in the North remains particularly wide,with the proportion of girls to boys in school ranging from 1 girl to 2 boys and 1 to 3 in some other States.
The impact of the amendment to the UBEC Act, can only be appreciated against the background of the poor funding of education, by successive administrations and the fact that while the situation is getting worse in states,due to several factors including obvious lack of concern they couldn’t access the more than 60 billion naira lying fallow. The exact situation the late reggae star Bob Marley,aptly captured in his epic song that “in the abundance of water,the fool is thirsty”. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommends that 26% of the nation’s budget should be allocated to the educational sector,so that the educational sector will have a good impact on the national development. But the actual expenditure by the federal and state governments shows that in 2016, only 8.44% of their total budget was spent on education. But the States couldn’t be bothered and our schools remained a nightmare.
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The UBEC bill is a product of Senator Wamakko’s background as an educationist,a committed one at that and his experience as a governor,that actually implemented the UBEC Act for 8 years and saw practically the short comings of the law and what is needed to make it effective. Wamakko was the deputy governor,when Former President Olusegun Obasanjo flagged off UBE programme on 30th September 1999 in Sokoto.In the lead debate on the bill he said “the bill seeks to amend the Compulsory,Free,Universal Basic Education Act,2004 to increase the block grant of the Federal Government,while reducing those of the State Governments.This is aimed at redressing the current situation where most States are unable to access the grant,owing to their inability to contribute the 50% of the total cost of the project”.
As governor Wamakko definitely left his mark on education his real love. And it is not surprising that he would sponsor the bill.He tackled the issues in the education sector- from infrastructure to feeding of students. He declared emergency in the education sector and to show his seriousness he allocated a whooping 22% of his budget to the sector.And it wasn’t just about massive construction,rehabilitation and expansion of primary and secondary schools,he also ensured that more than 1,000 teachers were employed. He also abolished fees and increased the feeding allowances for the secondary school students. The improvement in both primary and secondary school enrollment was dramatic. Even the neglected Out of School Women captured his attention and he established the Women Education Centers to enable them continue with their education.The jewel was the establishment of the Sokoto State University.Events have proven the decision to establish the university as an indication of foresight.It is a good thing his successor Aminu Tambawal, has the good sense to build on and in fact expand the frontiers,as education is key.
The timely amendment to the UBEC Act, will surely ease the difficulty of the 36 states in accessing the huge funds for infrastructure development. The Senate has by this singular act- reducing the 50 per cent counterpart funding clause downward to only 10 per cent,restated the commitment of Nigeria to improving the standard of education. Between 2005 to date the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory have only managed to access about 9 billion naira each.Several states still have at least a billion naira outstanding,that they can’t access.Hopefully the picture will change for the better. It must and should change. While the National Statistics by the United Nations Children Fund are horrifying,that of the North can best be described as calamitous,and so when a State like Zamfara that needs every kobo,that it can lay its hands on, refuses or can’t access over one billion naira that can make all the difference,it is a disaster.But Zamfara State, is not the only State on that road – in 2015/2016 session Abia,Delta,Adamawa,Akwa Ibom States couldn’t access their funds.In 2016 only Borno,Nasarawa and Rivers States accessed the grants from UBEC amounting to about 3 billion naira.
The lackadaisical attitude to governance as can be seen from the failure of most states to access the UBEC funds,is unfortunately not limited to education. It is the same situation in every project that demands counterpart funding. That of education is obvious because of its impact on the production of manpower for the other sectors.The focus should be achieving the goal of the programme; equipping an individual with knowledge, skills and attitudes which would enable him/her live a meaningful and fulfilling life,contribute to the development of the society,derive maximum social, economic and cultural benefits from the society and discharge civic obligations competently.
It is not yet Uhuru, as the House of Representatives must concur with the Senate,and then the signature of Mr. President for the bill to become law,only then can the over 60 billion naira that has accumulated,be unleashed to fund education in Nigeria’s 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.The House of Representatives must treat the bill wth the urgency it deserves.
Moving forward,at the center of the strategy of our educational rebirth must be a holistic approach that will seek to create a conducive environment for learning – rehabilitation,construction of classrooms,equipping of laboratories and hiring of teachers.Increase in enrollment has put tremendous pressure on facilities and on learning itself,as the teachers are not just enough.Presently classrooms are overcrowded- 80 pupils,instead of the more manageable 35 and majority are naturally sitting on the ground. We must eradicate illiteracy, ignorance and poverty as well as stimulate and accelerate national development, political consciousness and national integration and only education has the capacity to do this.
Unarguably the problem facing the sector is not limited to funding,but funding is critical,as reports have shown that the problem the North is facing, might not be in the numbers. Statistics is showing impressive numbers. The problem is the functionality of the schools,in he North.Statistics show that the three(3) Geo-Political Zones of the North,have 41,913 public primary schools,twice the number of schools in the entire South.However the North despite this fantastic statistics in numbers, is lagging behind the South, as the South has 67% literacy level, while the North has a 34% literacy level.
The passage of this bill sponsored by Senator Wamakko,and other crucial bills like that of the Pension Fund, gives us the opportunity to frontal address the recent calls for the abrogation of the Senate and the wholesome condemnation of former governors getting elected into the Senate.Some members have definitely not conducted themselves well,but calling for the abrogation of the Senate,based on the conduct of few senators,amount to throwing away the baby with the bath water. What is needed are reforms that will guide the conduct of the members.For instance,a former Governor elected to the Senate,can be made to forfeit his pension,while he collects his salary as a Senator. This is the way to go. The Senate plays critical roles most times – behind the scenes,resolving issues that threaten our corporate existence.Nigeria needs the likes of Wamakko,who have distinguished and continue to distinguish themselves. I hope Senator Wamakko will re – contest in 2019,Nigeria needs him.He must take a cue from Senator John McCain of the United States.
Senator John McCain has been a Senator representing Arizona since 1987. Before then he was in the House of Representatives,where he served two terms. Because he has become an institution, he is able to challenge his party position. The position of McCain is that a senator must be National in outlook.The likes of Wamakko,like old wine,will get better with time.When they stay longer in the Senate, they get better and there is a better understanding of issues and their bring their wealth of experience to bear.
In Nigeria the high turn over of legislators,due to so many factors,including governors that can’t tolerate opposition from members of the National Assembly and the local zoning of various offices amongst communities,these have done incurable damage to the Third Arm of Government. In 2015, 79 Senators failed to return. While 229 members couldn’t return to the Green Chambers. So quality of debate is zero.Nigeria lost Victor Ndoma- Egba ,a three terms Senator to local zoning. The only contribution of John Owan Enoh,who replaced him was decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress. After that it has been the silence of a graveyard.Same with Senator Ita Enang,a brilliant legislator,was master of parliamentary rules.Llike Ndoma -Egba,the man who replaced him is probably sleeping like Senator Danjuma La’ah of Kadûna State,who replaced a vibrant Senator Nenadi Usman.
