Buhari promises good education for children
Senate urges govt to rescue abducted kids
For Nigerian children, it is cheery news as President Muhammadu Buhari has assured them of his administration’s determination to ensure they have access to good and affordable education, irrespective of their social backgrounds.
The president made the pledge in a speech to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration being marked today.
On its part, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Federal Government to renew efforts at ending violence against children in the country.
In a statement yesterday, UNICEF observed that Nigerian children had in recent times been in dire straits, being exposed to violence in various parts of the country.
Also, a retired Professor of History, Bolanle Awe, yesterday tasked Nigerian children to be determined to be responsible citizens.
Awe who spoke at the 2016 Children’s Day school debate and quiz competition organised by the Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative said any child that is neglected and not given required attention by the parents would end up becoming a social dissident.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue all abducted and missing children are rescued and reunited with their families.
Adopting the motion sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central) titled 2016 Children’s Day Celebration with the theme “Stop violence against children” the Senate mandated its joint Committees on Women Affairs and Health to visit the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and address the health and welfare of the women and children and recommend appropriately to the House.
President Buhari noted that the fact that this year’s celebration, which is coming two days to the first anniversary of his administration, would offer him the opportunity to highlight his administration’s policy agenda for children and chart a fruitful path for the future for the Nigerian child.
His words: “I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present Administration, to reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people.
“On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.”
According to him, “The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain a top priority on our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases such as polio, measles and yellow fever.
“Other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, will ensure that more children go to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their peers.
“Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our dear nation, my administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and education for all our youth.”
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1 Comments
Why do Nigerian leaders always place the cart before the horse?
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