NGOs lament delay in UBE Act amendment bill passage

Groups task N’Assembly on a bill to create more seats for women

The Right to Education Coalition (REC), a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has expressed concern and displeasure over the delay in the passage of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act Amendment Bill by the House of Representatives.

The coalition, which consists of a community of international and local organisations led by Malala Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Save The Children, Invictus Africa, YouthHubAfrica & CSACEFA, said the development had contributed to the growing number of out-of-school children nationwide.

A statement, yesterday, by Tayo Elegbede for REC, stated: “Over 420 days on December 9, 2020, since the House of Representatives treated and consolidated the UBE Bill, no significant progress has been recorded by the Femi Gbajabiamila-led House of Representatives with regards to improving access of Nigerian children to 12 years of free, compulsory, quality and safe education.”

SIMILARLY, some women groups, under the auspices of 100 Women Lobby, have urged the National Assembly to support the bill seeking to create additional seats exclusively for women at the legislative houses.

National Co-ordinator of the groups, Felicia Onibon, made the call at a rally organised to raise awareness of the lawmakers on the need to back the proposed law.

Onibon noted that the low number of women in the National Assembly was a factor for the lack of support or push for bills that would have promoted affirmative action and equal opportunities for women.