FG to increase basic education’s funding to 3% of Consolidated Revenue Fund

The Federal Government says it has proposed a legislation to increase funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the basic education sector from 2 per cent to 3 per cent.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Mr David Apeh, Head, Public Relations and Protocol, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

He stated that the Director, Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, made the disclosure in Benin last Tuesday.

She was speaking at a meeting of UBEC Management with Executive Chairmen of States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) as representative of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

Apeh stated that Olatunji-David explained that the 1 per cent increase would be invested in the senior secondary school education segment.

He added that the minister’s representative said the Federal Government was fully committed to bridging the national skills gap.

She said also that government would support existing institutions while establishing new ones to accelerate production of trained manpower for the different sectors of the economy.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is committed to ensuring that these interventions have long lasting dividends to empower and enlighten the Nigerian child,” she was quoted as saying.

She expressed the hope that resolutions reached at the meeting would enhance the education of the Nigerian child whose success and progress underpin the overall progress of the nation.

She called on SUBEBs’ executive chairmen to work in synergy with the Minister of State for Education, private proprietors, other non-state actors and NGOs.

Olatunji-David said the synergy was necessary to create an enabling environment for enhanced quality teaching and learning.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said the commission was working to ensure equitable and quality basic education for all children of school age and would not relent in its efforts.

He explained that the success of any system of education was hinged on proper planning and effective implementation.

“This is what UBEC and SUBEB are striving to achieve through their partnership,” he said.