The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has stated that the Federal Government is working closely with state governors to address the issue of out-of-school children.
Alausa disclosed this during the 2025 budget defence session hosted by the Joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions, TETFund, and Education at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the ministry has engaged with state governors and the 36 state Commissioners for Education to find lasting solutions to the problem.
“We’re working together on this. It has to be a collaborative effort. The number of out-of-school children is mind-boggling and disturbing. It is not confined to one geo-political region; it is a nationwide issue.
“We need to confront it or risk being consumed by it. We have to engage with our governors, and we’ve held a meeting with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to discuss how to collaborate on this.
“We are also working with all 36 Commissioners for Education, including the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
Alausa expressed concern over the neglect of almajiri schools built during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, calling for collaborative efforts to revitalise them.
“Of the over one hundred schools built for out-of-school children, only a few are operational. The funding for the Almajiri and Out-of-School Commission is insufficient. We need increased funding in this regard,” he said.
He also stressed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring human capital development as a way of improving the education sector.
“We want the children to develop. Education is the backbone of any society. Without it, we cannot survive as a nation. If you look at the human capital index, Nigeria ranks among the lowest globally.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, highlighted the critical role of education in national development.
“As lawmakers, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that resources allocated to this vital sector are strategically planned and effectively utilised,” he said.
