The Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has stated that the recent Supreme Court ruling that grants full financial autonomy to local government councils invigorate the nation’s universal basic education.
Shettima said this during the public presentation of Professor Modupe Adelabu’s book, “Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria,” held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja,
According to him, he noted that the autonomy will address longstanding financial constraints that have stymied effective implementation at the grassroots level.
Shettima underscored the vital role local governments play in delivering primary education.
He articulated that the newfound autonomy will bridge the gap between administrative units and the government’s educational objectives, ultimately fostering a more effective educational framework.
The VP noted, “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.”
He added, “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.”
Highlighting commitment to education, Shettima pointed to the establishment of the Student Loan Scheme, which aims to ensure that every Nigerian student has access to financial assistance for their education. He stated,
“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.”
Addressing the challenges facing the educational sector, the VP noted the alarming statistics of children not attending school or lacking basic literacy skills, particularly among girls. He emphasized, “Many primary and secondary school-age children are still not attending or completing their education, and a large portion of the youth population lacks basic literacy skills, with notable gender disparities. This is what we must overcome.”
Shettima called for a collective effort from all levels of government to create policies that inspire educational engagement and accessibility.