Ignatius Okorocha, Abuja
Compelled by the growing wave of insecurity and it’s attendance criminality occasioned by frightening level of out of school children in parts of the country, the Senate on Wednesday resolved to summon a national Summit to deliberate and find a permanent solution to the menace.
This resolution of the Senate followed a report by Senate committee on Education (Basic& Secondary) on a motion sponsored by Senator Usman Lawal Adamu(Kaduna Central) on the compelling Need to take the challenge of out of school children in Nigeria.
In his lead debate, Senator Adamu had revealed that over 20 million out of school children roam about in parts of the country ,adding that larger percentage of the population came from Northern parts of the country.
In his contribution, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibril said,” Mr. President, I feel compelled to comment on this report because the issue is very important. It is a serious problem that, if we leave it unattended, it is a kind of time bomb, and once it explodes, it will consume us, particularly the Northern part of this country.
“Because the number of children roaming our streets without going to school needs our attention, it is a serious problem. It is a problem that the solution is beyond the federal government alone or any tier of government. It should have an all-inclusive attention. Local, state, and federal governments, traditional and religious leaders, and even parents all have a role to play.
“And I feel happy that the committee concluded by saying that addressing out-of-school children in Nigeria demands concerted efforts across all: National, state, local governments, parents, traditional rulers, development partners and so on. Because the Federal government can’t do it alone, state governments can’t. So, everybody has to come together; we all must come together.”
Continuing he noted”When you go to the lowest level, the parents, there must be a reorientation of those who feel that schools or education are unimportant. Let them understand the value of education.
“The Federal government should also make sure that there is reorientation for parents to know that they have to train their children properly, as prescribed by two prominent religions in the country – Islam and Christianity.
“Religions give that responsibility to the parents to make sure that they take care of their children. So, allowing kids to roam on the streets in the first place is not something that Islam accepts without giving them the proper care. It is also something that is not acceptable to Christianity. That has to be said loud and clear.
“The re-orientation has to commence immediately so that parents should know that they need to do that. Then, it is important for all stakeholders, as said by several colleagues, to sit down and find a lasting solution to this problem.”
In his contribution, Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Mohammed Mongunu(APC Borno Central) recalled how he became what he is today to out of school children syndrome.
He narrated how he and his late brother were conscripted by the missionaries to go to school.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio lamented that the lingering wave of banditry, Boko Haram, kidnapping and other forms of criminality bedeviling the country today, were products of our of school children.
He urged his colleagues to adopt a drastic measure to end out of school children syndrome in the country if the nation wants to tackle the menace headlong.
Senate there and then, resolved to summon a national Summit involving all tiers of government, state governors, CSOs and other stakeholders to deliberate on the issue and take a holistic solution to the ugly situation through a motion sponsored by former governor of Bayelsa, Senator Seriki Dickson and seconded by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibril.
When the President of the Senate put it to vote, majority of Senators in the plenary answered in affirmation
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