Vice President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working assiduously to tame all bottlenecks to universal education in the country.

Shettima said this is being championed through the ongoing reforms of the institutions tasked with overcoming the ideologies and inadequacies frustrating the education sector.

The vice president said this at the launching of a book titled, “Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria”, authored by the former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, in Abuja on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

He said: “As a steward of the nation, His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu is leading the charge to reform the institutions tasked with overcoming the ideologies and inadequacies that had frustrated universal education in Nigeria.

“Tinubu is not in power to engage in primitive capital accumulation, nor is he in power to leave landmarks in the sands of time.

“I’m not playing politics, I’m speaking from the heart. I have seen the soul of Bola Tinubu, and he has a good soul. He is the most demonised politician in Nigeria.”

Shettima said the lack of financial autonomy for the local governments that were responsible for delivering primary education had financially hindered its alignment of the administrative units with the nation’s education agenda.

Shettima, however, stated that the recent Supreme Court judgement empowering the Local Government Areas to control their resources brought them closer to the people.

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“It provides new hope for our educational initiatives. We need to align with the governance and see that the educational needs of our children are catered for,” the vice president added.

Shettima warned that the local government autonomy should not be abused, stressing that it should be used as a fulcrum, window, and avenue for addressing educational needs at the grassroots level.

He said: “And without the partnership between the federal government, the state and the local governments, very little can be accomplished.

“Just 15 to 20 years ago, local governments were not paying the salaries of primary school teachers and even the health workers.

“So, we have to put a mechanism in place to safeguard the interests of our core workers in the local government system.”

Shettima commended Adelabu for providing answers to some of the most pressing challenges confronting policymakers, saying the book will inspire informed conversations around the state and future of education in Nigeria.

“I believe this book will serve as a critical resource for all who seek to improve our educational landscape,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji lauded the author for her contributions to Nigerian educational development and society.

On her part, Adelabu emphasised the need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of the education system.

“We need to reevaluate our education system to meet the needs of our country and prepare our children for both domestic and global environments,” she stated.

The former deputy governor called for a focus on not just academic subjects, but also values, including democracy, justice, and good governance.

The Star