Leadership (Abuja)
7 July 2008
Niger — Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has declared free and compulsory education in all public schools in the state.
He made the declaration in Minna during the annual dinner and award night of the National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS).
In his address at the occasion, Aliyu said that the gesture was part of government's effort to improve the lot of its people.
He said that government had sent a bill to the State Assembly to make education "free and compulsory ."
"Under the bill, education will be free and compulsory for girls up to tertiary level and for boys to secondary level in all public schools", he said.
He said that the bill also prescribe punishment for parents or guardians that withdraw their wards from school or refuse to send their wards to school.
Aliyu also said that a bill for the integration of Quranic schools into formal schools would also be forwarded to the House.
He assured that the free education policy would be sustained throughout his tenure, adding, "even the payment of NECO/WASC fees will be borne by my administration throughout our tenure".
"I can assure you that with adequate planning, plugging of wastages in the system, stoppage of stealing of government funds, we can sustain our plans in the free education policy," the governor said.
He directed the Ministry of Education to come up with ways of resuscitating vocation jobs for students to enable them earn a living.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sum of N6.2 million was realised during the launch of the NANISS magazine.
In his remark at the occasion, Malam Mohammed Yerima, NANISS President, commended the governor for his "remarkable" achievements in the education sector.(NAN)
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Leadership. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
