Minister explains reason for 3% increase
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on Monday explained the reason the Federal Government is proposing an increase from two percent to three percent to Universal Basic Education from consolidated Revenue Fund.
Adamu noted that this would help to increase the quality of education, stressing that this is in view of the current administration’s interest in education.
He made this disclosure in Gombe during the distribution of Northern phase of 2019 Committee- School Programme School Based Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), implementation of UBEC support fund to beneficiaries.
Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Adamu noted that this was due to emerging trends and the need to pursue results.
He said, “Permit me to say that Government on its own part is not resting on its oars in respect of education funding. Recently, the Ministry has put in place a mechanism for seeking legal backing for the increase in the overall funding resources available for UBE delivery.
“In recognition of the emerging trends and in line with the need to step up programme implementation, the Ministry is proposing the increase in the total funds made available for UBE implementation from the current 2% to 3% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
“This proposition is with a view to demonstrating the administration’s commitment to improving the resources available to the sub-
Sector towards guaranteeing competitive and globally acceptable outcomes in basic education service delivery, Furthermore, and has been severally emphasized at different fora by the Federal Ministry of Education, the responsibility for quality UBE delivery is a collective pursuit that should interest all and sundry especially communities, the organized private sector, multinational agencies, etc.”
According to the minister, recent global events have reawakened the need to improve governance and accountability in the education sector, through decentralisation and proper devolution of responsibilities to structures and groups closer to the schools.
“I believe that it is in pursuit of this ideal that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) instituted the School Based Management Committee School Improvement Programme, with a view to providing financial support to communities in the planning, execution and ownership of priority basic education delivery projects in their schools.
“This ultimately places grassroot stakeholders in advantage position to improve schools as they are empowered to lead the process of positive change and accountability in the delivery of education services.”
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya said functional and qualitative education is a vital tool for the growth and eventual development of any society or nation.
Yahaya said no Nation can rise above Its quality of education, noting that this informed why he declared a state of emergency in the state’s education sector, with a view to repositioning it for the delivery of enhanced education.
Yahaya was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Dr. Manassah Jatau, assured that the doors of his administration are opened for partnership, collaboration and support, with development partners.
“We are ready to learn and be criticized realistically if the need arises as we work towards improving the education in the state, and by implication the nation.
“Therefore, we are all challenged to “dip our buckets where we are There is no time to wait and waste, as education is too important to be left to the Educationists alone” the governor said.
