The Nigerian Senate has resolved to convene a national summit to address the issue of out-of-school children in the country.
This decision follows briefings with President Bola Tinubu and the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary) on the urgent need to tackle this pressing challenge.
Senator Usman Lawal Adamu, representing Kaduna Central and Chairman of the committee, during the plenary session, revealed that over 2 million out-of-school children have been enrolled in the last year due to the collaborative efforts of various agencies under the Ministry of Education.
However, lawmakers identified the growing out-of-school children crisis as a “time bomb” that requires more comprehensive solutions beyond federal interventions.
In a debate, over 20 lawmakers expressed the need for improved collaboration between federal and state governments, especially concerning access to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds.
Some lawmakers, like Senator Ahmed Lawan, proposed allocating significant funds from the 2025 national budget to tackle this challenge head-on.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio highlighted that out-of-school children pose a serious threat, as many are at risk of becoming involved in criminal activities, such as banditry.
Given the urgency, the Senate with full consensus adopted the resolution for a national summit.