Parliamentary action on education: Amending the Universal Basic Education Act in Nigeria
Mark Useni MP and Senator Adamu Lawal are working to increase education financing and include early childhood care and education within free and compulsory education for all in Nigeria.
This case study from Mark Useni MP and Senator Adamu Lawal in Nigeria is part of a campaign profiling parliamentary action on education as to support World Parliament Day, held every year on 30th June.
This year, on Monday 30th June, IPNEd is hosting an online event to hear from members of parliament taking action to ensure more children are in school and receiving a quality education. You can register here.
Mark Useni MP and Senator Adamu Lawal, Chairs of the Basic Education Committee in the House of Representatives and Senate respectively, are working to amend the Universal Basic Education Commission Act in Nigeria to increase financing for education and include early childhood care and education within free and compulsory education for all.
The Universal Basic Education project was launched in 1999 at the commencement of the fourth republic. The legal backing for its implementation is contained in the Universal Basic Education Act enacted in 2004. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) oversees and coordinates its implementation. UBEC is responsible for providing greater access to and improving the quality of education for all Nigerians.
Mark Useni MP and Senator Adamu Lawal are the Chairs of the Basic and Higher Education Committee in the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively. As members of parliament, they are responsible for oversight functions in respect of the Act and ensuring that objectives of the legislation are being met.
They are working together, cross-party and cross-house, to amend Nigeria’s UBE Act to increase education financing and incorporate legislation on early childhood education, which is currently not mandated in law.
Drafting, proposing and amending national legislation is a duty reserved for members of parliament, and Mark and Adamu are exercising this parliamentary function to boost the quality of basic education across the country.
They recognise that more and better-allocated financing for education can help to boost the quality of education. They also understand that early childhood care and education (ECCE) is critical for laying the foundations needed to thrive later in school.
Increasing federal financing for education
Adequate financing is key to a well-functioning education system.
It can help ensure that teachers are sufficiently trained; support the provision and development of high-quality teaching and learning materials; and increase and improve school infrastructure. There are many other examples which could be drawn upon.
However, financing for education has been historically low in Nigeria where international targets of recommended spending on education have not been met.
Mark and Adamu recognise this and are working to increase federal funding for education.
The UBE Amendment will increase the share of the consolidated revenue fund allocated to education from 2% to 5% of GDP.
This puts Nigeria within the Education 2030 Framework for Action’s recommended bracket of 2-4% spending on education, which states that SDG 4 cannot be realised without significant and well-targeted financing.
In Nigeria, large portions of the budget currently go towards curriculum instruction and improvements in school infrastructure.
“One of the biggest challenges we have in Nigeria is the number of out of school children. And even when children are in school, they are not learning basic skills,” said Mark Useni MP, “Increasing the federal budget for education is important as it will provide additional funds to address these challenges.”
With increased funding, more will be allocated towards strengthening basic education delivery, which includes supporting teacher training and the quality of instruction across government schools.
Legislating on early childhood care and education
Providing access to ECCE can lay the foundations for lifelong learning.
It provides children with the care and education they need to develop holistically, including their health, nutrition, learning success, and socio-emotional development - all of which contribute to their future potential.
ECCE has long been recognised in this way in Nigeria and the UBEC has been dedicating resources to early childhood programmes for many years, though with low enrolment rates as it is not free nor compulsory.
Formal recognition of ECCE’s importance has, however, never been enshrined into legislation until now.
The UBE Amendment will be the first of its kind to incorporate free and compulsory early childhood care and education into law, where previously only primary and junior secondary education are both free and compulsory.
The proposed amendment will broaden the scope of the UBE Act by explicitly including ECCE within its objectives, and recognised as being a vital stepping stone for a child’s development and school readiness, helping them to stay in school and fulfil their potential.
Mark and Adamu are continuing to collaborate in Nigeria’s parliament to pass the UBE amendment - increasing financing for education and mandating free and compulsory ECCE into Nigerian national policy.
By working cross-party and cross-house, Mark and Adamu’s actions as members of parliament are making significant progress for children across Nigeria. Investing adequately in education is one of the most important steps to improving the quality of education, and these MPs are leading the way.
