From Premium Times Nigeria · Abdulqudus Ogundapo · · 3m
Senate passes bill for unity colleges and armed forces schools funding
Senate approves funding boost for federal unity colleges and military schools after bill clears second reading.
In brief
Senate approves funding boost for federal unity colleges and military schools after bill clears second reading. Nigeria's Senate passed a bill to increase funding for federal unity colleges and armed forces senior secondary schools after it cleared second reading. Originally reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
Senate bill passes second reading
The Senate approved a bill to amend the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act to strengthen funding and administration for federal unity colleges and armed forces senior secondary schools.
Sponsored by Senate Leader
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) sponsored the bill to improve senior secondary education through transparent funding, infrastructure, and qualified administrators.
Bill targets infrastructure gaps
The proposed amendments identify federal unity colleges and armed forces senior secondary schools for direct intervention to address infrastructure and learning-resource deficits.
Senate President announces passage
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill passed second reading during Tuesday’s plenary after receiving majority support in a voice vote.
Bill referred to committees
After passing second reading, the bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Primary and Secondary Education for further legislative scrutiny and public hearing.
Bamidele emphasizes education's role
Bamidele stated that improving senior secondary education requires effective institutional arrangements, transparent funding, infrastructure, qualified administrators, and sustained coordination among government levels.
Senate Chief Whip supports bill
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) argued that a coordinated, adequately funded secondary education system would strengthen Nigeria’s education sector and improve access nationwide.
State representatives back reforms
Diket Plang (Plateau Central) and Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North) supported the bill for uniformity in school administration and curriculum integration of technology and AI.
Funding challenges in Nigeria
A UNICEF report found government education spending dropped from 9.3 per cent of total government spending in 2015 to 3.6 per cent in 2023, well below the international benchmark of 15 to 20 per cent.
Learning gaps persist
In 2022, 86 per cent of pupils in Junior Secondary School 2 did not attain minimum proficiency in mathematics, according to UNICEF and the Universal Basic Education Commission.
NSSEC faces funding shortfalls
The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) Executive Secretary Iyela Ajayi noted inadequate funding limited the commission’s ability to address infrastructure deficits and learning-resource shortages.
King’s College concession controversy
The federal government’s decision to concede King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys Association sparked opposition from education workers and parents over public ownership and funding.
Education workers boycott schools
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) directed its members to boycott school resumption after the King’s College concession decision.
Government reassures stakeholders
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, maintained that the King’s College arrangement did not amount to selling the school and ruled out plans to concede other Federal Unity Colleges.
Concession review underway
Following discussions between the government and organised labour, implementation of the King’s College concession was put on hold for a review of the agreement.
The essence
Nigeria's Senate passed a bill to increase funding for federal unity colleges and armed forces senior secondary schools after it cleared second reading.
