Senate President Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, linked Nigeria’s falling education standard to the disturbing insecurity in the country.
Addressing the eighth matriculation of postgraduate students of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILDS)/the University of Benin for the 2020/2021 academic session yesterday in Abuja, Lawan indicated that some of the consequences of the weakness in the nation’s education sector include rising criminal activities and anti-social behaviours, a high number of unemployable youths and an unproductive workforce.
Represented by Senator Degi Biobarakuma (APC: Bayelsa), the Senate President noted: “You are well aware of some of the challenges and deficits in this sector, including limited funding, lack of infrastructure and teaching aids, poorly trained personnel and low levels of commitment.
“These have adversely affected the productivity and output of our schools and centres of learning at all levels.”
Lawan highlighted efforts of the National Assembly at improving primary and secondary education to consist amendment of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act for an increase of its budgetary allocation from two to three per cent.
“However, a lot more remains to be done in order to ensure that all stakeholders at the state and federal levels do their part to strengthen the sector,” he added.
The institute’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, urged the matriculants to make discipline their watchword.
“For the matriculating students, our expectations of you are very high: We believe that as the mature students that you are, you will not disappoint us.
“Rather, you will be the best that you could possibly be and be among our students and graduates, who are writing the name of the university in golden letters everywhere,” she charged.
In his remarks, NILDS Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, called on the students to respect extant rules captured in their matriculation oath and handbook.
He added: “It is globally accepted that competent technical legislative staff are essential to the effective functioning of the legislature and by extension in building a strong and virile bureaucracy.
“The programmes offered by the institute are specialised and guided by the belief that it is only by appropriate and effective education of the populace in democratic governance that genuine and functional democracies can emerge across the world.”
Responding on behalf of the students, Oscar Abesough pledged their commitment “to rule the world.”
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