The Vice president of Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the recent Supreme Court judgement granting full financial autonomy to local government councils will enhance Nigeria’s universal basic education system.
He made the assertion on Thursday during the public presentation of a new book, “Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria,” written by former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to him, the autonomy of local governments, which are directly responsible for providing primary education, will address the financial limitations that have hindered the alignment of administrative units with the government’s educational agenda.
The Vice President noted that ongoing reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu will address inadequacies and ideologies frustrating universal education in the country.
He stated: “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.
“The lack of autonomy of local governments, which are responsible for delivering primary education, has created significant financial hindrances to 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.”
Shettima urged the government at all levels to focus on policies that empower “those at the forefront of implementing initiatives that inspire interest in education.”
Noting that President Tinubu’s decision to establish the Student Loan Scheme in the country was to secure the future of Nigerian children, the VP said, “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. Beyond making education universally free, our experience shows that incentivising is the most practical gateway before us. This is why all of us, across all levels and branches of government, must join this campaign to educate the nation.”
Shettima pointed out that the realities inherited by the Tinubu administration “are such that demand urgent action to ensure that education is not only accessible but also desirable for every Nigerian child, fostering long-term national developmen,he added.
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