The Queens College Old Girls Association (QCOGA), has commended the Senate, under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, for passing the amendments to the 2004 Universal Basic Education Act.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Frances Ajose and the Chair of its Advocacy Pressure Group, Mrs. Abieyuwa Eke Sanyaolu, the Queens College Alumni lauded the UBEC amendment passed by the Senate, describing it as “a major step towards the passing of a comprehensive Government sponsored Universal Basic Education bill guaranteeing free and compulsory education for primary and secondary students in all states in Nigeria.”
The statement also commended the Senate for approving the increase in budgetary allocation to the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, from its former two per cent to three per cent.
“We especially applaud the landmark legislation which reduces the contribution of the state governments from 50% to 10%; with the aim of ameliorating the current situation where most states are unable to access the grant owing to their inability to pay the counterpart funding.
“Queens College Old Girls Association thanks and supports the Senate President’s continued exhibited commitment to basic and secondary education in Nigeria and to improving the quality of education in the country,” the Queens College Alumni said.
Recall that in July, the Senate amended the Compulsory, Free, Universal Basic Education Act of 2004 with a clause that will make primary and secondary education free and compulsory across the country.
Additionally, the amendment will ease pressure on states in accessing funds for infrastructure development, by reducing the 50 per cent counterpart funding clause to access education intervention funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), downward to 10 per cent.
Since the UBEC amendment passed at the Senate, the Upper Chamber has received commendations from various domestic and international advocacy groups and individuals, including Malala Yousafzai — the Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate — who commended the 8th Senate, and thanked its President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for working to extend the right to free education in Nigeria.
