The Senate has called for a national summit aimed at finding comprehensive solutions to the problem.
The decision was reached following a detailed briefing with President Bola Tinubu and a report submitted by the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary).
The report, presented by the committee’s Chairman, Senator Usman Lawal Adamu, representing Kaduna Central, highlighted the strides made in the past year, noting that over two million out-of-school children have been enrolled in schools.
This achievement was credited to the concerted efforts of various agencies under the Ministry of Education tasked with tackling the out-of-school children problem.
However, despite these efforts, the Senate’s debate underscored the gravity of the challenge, with over 20 lawmakers describing it as a “time bomb” that demands urgent, multi-faceted solutions.
The lawmakers emphasized that the Federal Government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility and called for greater collaboration between national and sub-national governments.
During the debate, some senators pushed for improved access to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds for state and local governments to aid their efforts in resolving the issue.
Senator Ahmed Lawan went further, suggesting that a substantial portion of the 2025 national budget be specifically allocated to tackle the out-of-school children crisis.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, expressed grave concern over the implications of the growing number of out-of-school children, warning that they are potential recruits for criminal activities, including banditry.
“If we do not address this issue now, these children may end up exacerbating the insecurity in the country,” Akpabio warned.
Following the robust discussions, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling for a national summit.
The summit is expected to bring together key stakeholders across the country, including representatives from federal, state, and local governments, as well as international organizations and civil society groups, to devise long-term strategies for curbing the out-of-school children crisis.
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