During the book launch of “Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria” by Modupe Adelabu in Abuja, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Vice President Kashim Shettima, expressed his support for the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local government councils in Nigeria. According to Shettima, this significant decision will greatly improve the country’s universal Basic Education system. Shettima stressed the importance of giving more independence to local governments in charge of primary education.
This autonomy would help eliminate financial barriers that have been blocking the coordination of educational policies with government priorities. He promised that the reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership would tackle the issues facing the education sector and break down obstacles hindering the advancement of learning in Nigeria. Local governments are key players in delivering primary education, which forms the basis of the country’s educational system. In the past, local councils relying on state funding has hindered their ability to fulfil their duties.
Challenges affecting learning at the local level will be addressed.
The absence of independence frequently results in resource mismanagement, insufficient funding for schools, challenges in Teacher recruitment, and inadequate Infrastructure progress, negatively impacting the education quality provided to the youth of Nigeria. The recent ruling from the Supreme Court has transformed the landscape by guaranteeing that local governments can now access their funds directly. This groundbreaking decision, made in July, mandates that the Federal Government must allocate 20.60% of monthly funds directly to the 774 local government councils.
Also, this action serves as a barrier against governors misusing funds meant for local governments and promotes transparency and responsibility. Furthermore, the decision prevents state governors from dismantling democratically elected local councils, further solidifying the autonomy of local governments as separate administrative entities. Local councils now have the freedom to allocate their resources towards enhancing the primary sector. This includes tasks such as building and upkeep of school structures, supplying educational materials, and compensating teachers.
All children should have access to free primary education.
Furthermore, the independence will support the enactment of changes aligned with the government’s goal of universal basic education. The introduction of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program aimed to ensure all children have access to free and mandatory primary education. Yet, obstacles such as insufficient funding, resource mismanagement, lack of infrastructure, and teacher shortages have hindered its successful implementation. It is anticipated that granting local governments financial independence will help address these challenges by ensuring they have the funds needed to enhance and uphold the system.
Learning is seen as the foundation of any community, and having a well-operating universal basic education program is crucial to preparing Nigeria’s youth with the necessary knowledge and skills to impact the country’s future positively. Following the decision of the Supreme Court, approximately 15 states have conducted or declared local government elections in the last month. These elections are considered crucial in enhancing transparency at the grassroots level. With local authorities now managing their finances independently, voters have greater authority to ensure that their leaders are effectively providing essential services.
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Nigeria is making great strides in guaranteeing quality learning for all children by harmonising the administrative frameworks of local councils with the educational priorities set by the federal government. The self-sufficiency of finances within local governments in Nigeria is a significant factor that can revolutionise the educational system. The combination of federal government reforms and the Supreme Court decision has set a strong groundwork for the advancement of Nigeria’s universal basic education system, bringing positive impacts to a large number of Nigerian children.