THE Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the Ministry of Education to ensure that public and private schools in the state comply with the teaching of native languages at both primary and secondary schools in line with the provisions of the Basic Education Curriculum Structure.

The directive was given after Mr. Segun Olulade moved a motion on the issue during the House plenary recently.

Olulade had noted that languages were most powerful instruments of preserving and developing tangible and intangible cultural heritage in every human civilization.

'Our wealth of cultural and traditional heritage has the potential to translate into socio-economic gains and promotion of arts and culture, textile and clothing, festivals and tourism, food and hospitality as well as language and education', he said.

The house, therefore, called on the Ministry of Information Security and Strategy to join the campaign in prevention of language extinction by urging parents, particularly mothers to regularly interact with their children in native language.

In his submission, Mr. Ibrahim Layode said 'The problem started from home, where most parents cannot communicate with their children in native language, especially Yoruba.

Mr. Abiodun Tobun commended efforts of the state owned media organisations, especially Radio Lagos in promoting local languages in their programming.

Another lawmaker, Hon. Bisi Yusuff, said there was need for everybody irrespective of tribe or culture to educate their children in their local languages.