Unless the Nigerian budget is increased from its present 7% to 20% with clear accountabilities on delivery, the country is unlikely to achieve the global agenda for universal inclusive and equitable basic education for all school-age children by 2030.
The United Nations (UN) gave the warning following the official launch of the Reports of Independent Evaluation of Sustainable Development Goals-3 (SDG-4) and SDG-4 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday.
Speaking during the event at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mathias Schmale, who gave this position, observed that Nigeria is the first country to undertake and deliver independent comprehensive evaluations of SDG-3 and SDG-4.
He noted that the reports indicate how quickly the government has established robust institutional monitoring and support frameworks at the national and sub-national levels to support effective implementation of the SDGs across the whole country.
The UN representative stated: “While the findings of these evaluations show some improving health and education outcomes in Nigeria, the reports also contain some worrying analysis.
“In relation to SDG-4 on quality education, it is, for example, concerning to note that Nigeria is unlikely to achieve the global agenda for universal inclusive and equitable basic education for all school-age children by 2030 if the current very low public investment in the education sector remains the same.
“The evaluation indicates that the right policies (especially around free basic education and gender) are in place but an increase in quality and access to education is critical.
“In the 2022 budget, there was an increase to 7% on education but the evaluation says it will need to increase to 20% with clear accountabilities on delivery.
“Similarly, government resources for health financing are inadequate for the achievement of SDG-3 targets related to good health and well-being.
“It is good to see that the recommendation of revitalizing Primary Health Care has already started and its effectiveness will be enhanced with a clear plan and accountability on human resources and financing at the state level.
“Business as usual is not sufficient. In support of government, we are keen to identify truly transformative initiatives that will catalyze tangible change in the lives and livelihoods of the Nigerian people. This new data will help determine which health and education programmes are really moving the needle. We can then look to expand, renew, and replicate them.
“We must collectively push forward with education and health sector specific transformative initiatives such as prioritising and revitalising basic Primary Health Care and improving the quality of teachers and learning in and out of classrooms.”
While lauding the efforts of Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Schmale noted that the two reports point to the importance of significantly increasing public spending on both health and education services.
He added: “This cannot happen without finding ways to promote sustainable economic growth, increasing domestic resource mobilisation and making some tough choices on public spending.
“It is evident that achieving SDGs 3 and 4 will not happen in isolation. Significant progress must be made on other SDGs such as SDG on reducing poverty, SDG-8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG-10 reduced inequalities.
“The recommendations in the two reports will be invaluable as we try to get back on track and accelerate our trajectory towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its attendant SDGs.
“A whole of government and a whole of society approach is required to shift the needle towards better development outcomes. And accountability mechanisms between the federal and state level must be further strengthened.
“We in the UN are keen to support the government in leaving a legacy that is associated with better health care and learning for all and in particular the most vulnerable in society.”
In his keynote address, Vice President Osinbajo affirmed that building the commitment and incentive necessary to prioritize and increase Basic Educational financing up to 12% at all levels is crucial.
He said: “The timing of the use of appropriated funds is also important. The state government should take advantage of the UBEC matching grants by making the required contributions.
“Educational stakeholders are encouraged to develop and strengthen coordination mechanisms that can help tighten the collaboration with information sharing between federal and the state on the one hand, and non-state actors on the other hand.”
The Vice President noted that with the adoption of the agenda and the SDGs, Nigeria has set for itself a vision to end extreme poverty and safeguard our planet by the year 2030.
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According to him, achieving inclusive sustainable development is an objective that aligns closely with the present administration’s desire to bring 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years.
He explained that it is for this reason that the federal government established a number of programs to support the acceleration of the achievement of the SDGs.
On the findings of the report, Osinbajo stated: “The findings contained in these strategic evaluations reinforce the evidence for improving health and educational outcomes in Nigeria, and highlight how all stakeholders, governments, development partners and civil society can best address systemic gaps and challenges.
“So, this official launch today comes with a responsibility for us to intentionally use the key findings of the two evaluations to strengthen policies that support the achievement of the SDGs.”
He said that while the reports acknowledge that many states and non-state actors, both local and external, are already working on some of these recommendations, “We look forward to the full and successful implementation of the recommendations a holistic approach across the four thematic areas in a way that maximizes positive health impacts for the poor and the most vulnerable groups in Nigeria.”
Osinbajo assured that the federal government will continue to promote strong partnerships and facilities amongst ministries departments and agencies, and between development departments also for coordinated implementation for SDGs in Nigeria.
In her opening statement, Princess Orelope-Adefulire, noted that effective implementation of the SDGs requires periodic evaluation to ensure progress measurement, generate knowledge and inform policy shift.
She said the reports lauched on Thursday are products of series of efforts led by her office in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; the Federal Ministries of Health and Education, with the support of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria.
“The evaluation on SDGs 3 and 4 have been prioritized based on our national development priorities as embedded in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP -2017-2020),” she added.
“The findings of this strategic evaluation support further evidence for improving the rights of children to education in Nigeria and how the Government at all levels, along with development partners and civil society, can best address systemic gaps and challenges, including the negative effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to progress on our shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development,” she further said.
In her message at the occasion, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, thanked Orelope-Adefulire and the UN team in the country “for organizing this important and timely event.”
She added: “As evidenced by the reports, Nigeria recognizes that health and education are cornerstones for sustainable and equitable development. progress in these areas is crucial to the resilience to global shocks. And whether the multiple crises the world is confronting,
strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system is the key to be better prepared for current and future pandemics.
“And the report sheds some light on key priority areas to do so. including improving the governance and accountability of the health care programs across the country. The report is also very timely as the recommendations on education aligned with the focus areas of the transforming education summit, including on inclusive and equitable education, especially for our girls, Safe and Healthy Schools, foundational skills, and lifelong learning, digital skills and education Financing.
“I encourage you all to swiftly turn these recommendations into actionable levels so that we can accelerate our implementation of the 2030 agenda. I congratulate Nigeria for the progress identified in the report. Let these results serve as a catalyst for even greater achievements.”
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