By Chesa Chesa
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the recent Supreme Court judgement granting full financial autonomy to local government councils will enhance Nigeria’s universal basic education system.
According to him, the autonomy of local governments, which are directly responsible for providing primary education, will address the financial limitations that have hindered the alignment of administrative units with the government’s educational agenda.
He stated this on Thursday during the public presentation of a new book, “Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria,” written by former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Vice-President noted that on-going reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would address inadequacies and ideologies frustrating universal education in the country.
He stated: “As stewards of the nation, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading the charge to reform the institutions tasked with overcoming the ideologies and inadequacies that have frustrated universal education in Nigeria.
“The lack of autonomy of local governments, which are responsible for delivering primary education, has created significant financial hindrances in aligning administrative units with our educational agenda.
“However, the recent Supreme Court judgement empowering local government councils to control their resources brings government closer to the people. It provides new hope for our educational initiatives.”
Senator Shettima urged government at all levels to focus on policies that empower “those at the forefront of implementing initiatives that inspire interest in education”.
Noting that President Tinubu’s decision to establish the Student Loan Scheme in the country was to secure the future of Nigerian children, the VP said: “The initiative ensures that every student has access to loans to pay their tuition, and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has already recorded an overwhelming number of applications.
“This is a landmark achievement, signalling the bright future we are building for our youth. Beyond making education universally free, our experience shows that incentivising is the most practical gateway before us. This is why all of us, across all levels and branches of government, must join this campaign to educate the nation”, he added.
The book reviewer, Professor Siyan Oyeweso of the Department of History and International Studies at Osun State University praised Adelabu’s work.
He said, “The author has singled out the politics and financing of education in this book. It’s impossible to separate politics, education, and finance, as the major stakeholders are political players.”
The book’s author, Professor Modupe Adelabu, emphasised the need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of the education system.
