In a bid to tackle the growing issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria, the Senate has called for a national summit following consultations with President Bola Tinubu.
This decision came during a plenary session after the submission of the report by the Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary), highlighting the urgent need to address the crisis.
According to the committee’s chairman, Senator Usman Lawal Adamu (Kaduna Central), over two million out-of-school children have been enrolled in the last year, thanks to the collective efforts of the ministry’s agencies working on educational outreach. However, during a spirited debate involving more than 20 lawmakers, the problem of out-of-school children was described as a “time bomb,” requiring more than just federal government intervention.
Some lawmakers advocated for greater collaboration between the federal and state governments, particularly in ensuring easier access to funds from the **Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)**. Senator Ahmed Lawan suggested that a significant portion of the 2025 national budget should be dedicated to addressing the issue.
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, emphasized the urgency of resolving the crisis, stating that the growing number of out-of-school children could become future threats to national security, as many are vulnerable to becoming involved in criminal activities.
In response, the Senate unanimously agreed to organize a **national summit** aimed at formulating comprehensive strategies to curb the out-of-school children challenge and ensure sustained educational opportunities for all Nigerian children.
