Nigerian Senate votes for direct funding of federal secondary schools
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Premium Times
The Nigerian Senate has passed at third reading an amendment to the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act introducing direct public funding for federal unity colleges and armed forces secondary schools, with coordination rules. The bill, introduced by Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and considered by a committee after a public hearing, also changes the composition of state education boards, according to Premium Times.
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed a bill amending the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act to increase direct public funding for federal secondary schools and armed forces secondary schools. The bill was passed by a majority in a voice vote presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Premium Times reports.
The bill provides for direct government intervention to address infrastructure deficits and shortages of teaching resources in public secondary schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It also requires operational guidelines and coordination between the National Senior Secondary Education Commission and other relevant authorities, according to Premium Times.
The amendment also changes the composition of state education boards: each of the three senatorial districts must be represented, with at least one woman among the three representatives. The bill had passed its second reading in October before being considered by the relevant committee, which held a public hearing attended notably by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Premium Times reports.
The passage came on the same day as the publication of information on Nigeria’s project to strengthen the management of public secondary schools, also focused on the organisation and funding of these schools.
