The educational system in Nigeria has been in the doldrums for some years now. The incessant strike actions by the academic staff union of universities (ASUU), senior staff academic union of Nigerian universities (SSANU) and other strike actions by tertiary institutions in Nigeria has crippled the educational sector in Nigeria and put on hold the academic pursuits and the ambitions of young Nigerians seeking tertiary education to hang in the balance and to their own fate. From the tertiary education down to the basic education in Nigeria, the educational sector has been totally underfunded by the government. The lingering loggerheads between the federal government and the academic staff union of universities (ASUU) crisis in Nigeria today boils down to the issue of poor funding and remuneration of academic workers, which the university community complains bitterly of being inadequate for academic research and development.
BASIC EDUCATION PUPILS IN NIGERIA.
At the basic education level in Nigeria the story are still the same, poor funding, poor remuneration of basic education workers and the inadequate allocation of federal grants to basic education in Nigeria has hindered and hampers the growth and development of the basic education system in Nigeria. Under the Nigerian constitution, basic education as a matter falls under the residual legislative list, which makes it an item under the purview, jurisdiction, authority and control of the local government administration in Nigeria. The local government system of administration in Nigeria as we all know lacks the autonomy to carry out her constitutional provisions as a third tier of the government. Local government system as a federating unit in the Nigerian context are tied to the apron strings of the state governments in Nigeria, and as such the state government dictates how funds are to be appropriated and expended by the local governments in Nigeria. The continuous lack of autonomy by the local government in Nigeria in its entirety, invariably affects the smooth running of basic education system in Nigeria because of the issue of joint state account with the state government which makes local governments in Nigeria mere puppets and not totally independent.
NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI (RTD).
THE WAY FORWARDThe federal government of Nigeria as a matter of urgency should increase the yearly allocation for education in the 2023 incoming budget and provides adequate funding for the basic education development in Nigeria to improve the foundational level of all academic ladder in the educational sector. The federal government also as a matter of urgency with the constitutional powers bestowed on her should declare a state of emergency in the educational sector in Nigeria, and calls for a total overhaul in the educational policies and reforms, to revamp the comatose educational sector in Nigeria beginning from the basic education up to the tertiary level of education in Nigeria. The federal government and the local government in particular as the custodian of basic education administration in Nigeria should solicit for funding and grants, loans from the international donor agencies and development institutions like World Bank, African Development Bank (ADB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Paris club, London club and other international non-governmental organizations (lNGO) from around the world to fund basic education in Nigeria and work out flexible repayment plans over a long term period say 10 to 15 years plan. In addition to this, the federal government of Nigeria owes the local government her constitutional responsibilities of increasing her monthly allocations and funding to make it more efficient.
GOAL 4 (QUALITY EDUCATION) OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
In conclusion, to make basic education in Nigeria to be up to standard in terms of quality and service delivery, the federal government of Nigeria should do the following ;
1. Remove basic education from the residual legislative list to exclusive legislative list to make basic education an exclusive item of the federal government for efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of the basic education in Nigeria.
2. Increase funding for basic education and review the salary scale and structure of basic education workers to enhance motivation and productivity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Comrade Enobong Ekwere is a social influencer, blogger, activist, media and communication strategist, freelance journalist and a global citizen. He is the program manager, media and communications of children and young people living for peace (CYPLP) an organic, voluntary, youth focused and a think-tank non-governmental organization based in Kaduna state, Nigeria. A Higher National Diploma graduate (HND) of Public Administration (Upper Credit) from the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. He holds a proficiency certificate in management from the Nigerian lnstitute of Management, Chartered (NIM) Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a graduate member of the institute (Associate member in view). Enobong Ekwere works with young people in local communities across Nigeria localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and (SDG 4, quality education) in particular, accelerating action online and offline, engaging duty bearers and policy makers to be accountable for it's implementation by 2030. He is a strong advocate of quality education, good governance and democracy, accountability in government, freedom of information, access to information, free press, social justice and social inclusion. As a youth advocate and a global leader who loves to see social reforms in the society he uses his personalized blog to write compelling stories on developmental and topical issues on national and global concern that shapes and transform people's lives and impact the larger society for knowledge transfer and lifelong learning. He engages in community service and volunteerism, community outreach, social mobilization and advocacy tours to hard to reach local communities in Nigeria advocating and advancing the cause of the SDGs and SDG4 in particular so that no community and youth in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large would be left behind. CYPLP works primarily in serving vulnerable population of children, youth and women in unserved, underserved, underrepresented and marginalized local communities in Nigeria. He can be reached via:
Tel/WhatsApp: +2347082558952
Email: julyenobong2020@gmail.com
: enobongekwere825@gmail.com
Website: www.cyplp.net.ng
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