Compulsory basic education: Agbakoba lauds Buhari’s directive, urges full implementation

Olisa Agbakoba, human right lawyer, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to state governors to rigorously enforce the constitution and statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education guaranteed by Section 18 of the 1999 constitution.

In a statement to journalists in Lagos at the weekend, he noted that Nigerians were expectant that the directive would spur the 36 state governors to work to ensure that schools across the country offers the right opportunity and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education.

Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), however, added that the Human Right Law Services HURILAWS has initiated a nationwide monitoring programme that would monitor compliance by states across the country in line with the provision of the Nigerian constitution.

According to the statement, “We write to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for calling on governors of states to rigorously enforce the constitutional and statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education guaranteed by Section 18 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Section 2 of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Etc. Act of 2004.

“It is our expectation going forward that every governor and local government will work to ensure that our schools offer the right opportunity and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education.

“In order to support governments’ effort, HURILAWS has initiated a nationwide monitoring programme to ensure compliance by states with Section 18 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Section 2 of the Compulsory”.

 

Iniobong Iwok