By Felix Khanoba
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) have pledged support as the Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC) starts headcount of teachers and other personnel in primary and junior secondary across Nigeria.
The religious groups pledged their support at a meeting of the 2022 Personnel Audit of all Basic Education Institutions in Abuja on Thursday
The CAN General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, commended UBEC for embarking on the exercise, saying it was critical in view of the need to reposition the education sector in Nigeria.
He said CAN would sensitise the various religious groups under it at all levels to ensure the success of the exercise.
He thanked the Federal Government for considering faith-based schools to be part of the headcount as against the 2018 headcount, which did not include faith-based institutions at basic levels.
“We are ready to team up with UBEC to further develop education in Nigeria,” he said.
Daramola called for the return of Religious Studies and History to schools to instill morals and values, as well as educate students on the country’s history.
He further called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve the impasse regarding the ongoing strike.
Dr Khalil Aliyu, the General Secretary, JNI, said the headcount was crucial as it would help with comprehensive data for proper planning and budgeting for the education sector.
While assuring that JNI would carry out the needed mobilisation and orientation at the local, state and federal levels, Aliyu said education was the bedrock of every nation.
“The result of the national audit will help improve budgeting for education because education is the bedrock for socio-political develop of countries.
“We commend UBEC for the effort to improve education in Nigeria and we will be willing to support the commission to move basic education in Nigeria forward,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, commended the religious leaders for honouring the commission’s call to be part of the exercise.
He said the exercise was aimed at collecting data on school enrolment, personnel, and facilities, among others from public, private and faith based schools across Nigeria.
“Data forms the basis for making informed decisions and the absence of current and reliable data often leads to faulty plans whose objectives are difficult to achieve,” he said.
The Chairman of the 2022 National Personnel Audit of all Basic Education Institutions, Prof. Bala Zakari said the headcount would commence in June.
