More states will soon access UBEC fund —Saraki

THE Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, stated that Senate’s amendment of the act that establishes the compulsory Universal Basic Education will provide the 36 states with needed funds to enhance the quality of education in the country.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate Presiden, Yusuph Olaniyonu, informed that Saraki said that for many years, many states had been unable to access the intervention funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) due to their inability to pay the 50 per cent matching grant prescribed by the act.

The Senate President stated that the upper chamber’s amendment of the bill was in line with its commitment to ensuring that education is improved at all levels across the country.

Olaniyonu, in a statement, stressed that, said: “As things stand, with over 10.5 million out-of- school children in the country, most states across the federation cannot meet the required commitment of 50 per cent to access their UBEC funds. “There is absolutely no point having over N60 billion of basic education funds lying idle, because the States — due to other necessary commitments — cannot provide the counterpart funding for UBEC.

“This is why the Senate amendment is a downward review from 50 per cent to 10 per cent. What we are doing is telling the states that education is important, we know that you cannot commit the full 50 per cent to UBEC, however, if you can bring 10 per cent of the counterpart funds, you will be able to access this money to improve the quality of basic education.

“This will go a long way in taking many more of our children off the streets and back in the classrooms where they belong.”

The senator representing Sokoto North, Senator Aliyu Wammako, in his contribution, disclosed that the sponsor of the bill had stated that the Senate’s amendment would ease pressure on states in accessing funds for infrastructure development.

Wamakko, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, said the compulsory, free, Universal Basic Education Act of 2004 was amended with a clause that would make primary and secondary education free and compulsory across the country.