Buhari Identifies Illiteracy as Cause of Nigeria’s Insecurity
*Urges governors to provide free, compulsory education
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday identified the cause of insecurity in the country as illiteracy and called on governors to introduce free and compulsory education in their states.
Speaking during the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja Buhari free and compulsory education is contained in Section 18(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
He said that governors who failed to make provision for schools, teachers and necessary teaching materials as needed for basic education would be encouraging crime.
He called on governors to mobilize local government chairmen in their states to ensure that there is free and compulsory education.
He said, “Section 2 of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act provides that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age. It is indeed a crime for any parent to keep his child out of school for this period. In my view, when a government fails to provide the schools, teachers and teaching materials necessary for basic education, it is actually aiding and abetting that crime.
“This is therefore a call to action. I would like to see every governor rise from this meeting and rally his local government chairmen towards ensuring that our schools offer the right opportunities and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education, at the minimum. If we are able to do this, the benefits will surely manifest themselves.
“Ensuring proper education during the first nine years of schooling means that our children start off their lives with some discipline and education. They will be safeguarded from roaming the streets, and protected from all the evil influences that assail idle hands and idle minds”.
The NEC which is chaired by the Vice President during the meeting noted that banditry in the North-west is gradually replacing terrorism, adding that this has become a big problem for national security.
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