The Bauchi State House of Assembly has been described as one of the most education-, student-, and child-friendly assemblies in the country, considering the various resolutions, motions, and bills passed by its members.
It was noted that the Assembly’s various actions have demonstrated its commitment to the welfare and well-being of children and students at different stages of education.
The Assembly was particularly commended for considering and passing into law the Bill for Safer Schools in the State, which is currently awaiting Executive assent from the Governor.
This assertion was made by speakers at a one-day High-Level Roundtable for Media Executives on Advocacy for Safe and Secure Schools in Lagos and Bauchi States, held on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Lagos. The event was organized by the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC) in collaboration with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
Lead Consultant to the project and Lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Kehinde Olayode, expressed gratitude to the Assembly for not wasting time in passing the bill into law, noting that it remains pending in other states.
He opined that once signed into law and fully implemented, the bill will serve as a major support for creating safer and more secure school environments in the state, thereby promoting quality and standard education.
ALSO READ: Bauchi govt moves to end zero-dose status with 2.5m polio vaccines
The university don expressed confidence that the Executive arm would not delay in signing the bill into law, allowing it to take immediate effect for the benefit of the education sector and students.
In her submission, the Founder of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi, praised the Bauchi State House of Assembly for accepting the advocacy of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including WARDC, on the need for a legislatively backed safe and secure school environment in the state.
Represented by the Acting Executive Director, Emmanuella Azu, she expressed pleasure that the Assembly, within a short period, considered the bill after a public hearing and passed it into law to enhance an effective and efficient learning and teaching environment.
Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi particularly commended the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, for leading the efforts to get the bill passed, describing him as a lover of education, children, and students.
She explained that creating a safe and secure school environment goes beyond physical infrastructure, encompassing provisions such as sanitary pads for female students to support them during their menstrual cycles.
She said the establishment of sanitary pad banks in all schools across the state, as stipulated in the law, will enhance a conducive learning environment for female students.
According to her, “Female students will no longer have to miss school because of a few days of menstruation. The sanitary pad banks will take care of their immediate needs.”
She, however, appealed to the Governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, to urgently append his signature to the bill in order to make it operational for the benefit of the children and students of the state.
and then