Nigerian Govt advised to develop roadmaps for implementation of SDG4 agenda

The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), an NGO, has advised the Federal Government to develop credible roadmaps for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda.

Mr Kabiru Aliyu, National Coordinator, CSACEFA, gave the advice in Abuja on Tuesday at a stakeholders meeting to mark the 2018 Global Week for Education.

The theme of the meeting is: ‘‘Accountability for the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) agenda through Citizens’ Participation: Keeping your promises.’’

SDG 4 has 10 targets encompassing many different aspects of education.

They include universal primary and secondary education, early childhood development and universal pre-primary education, gender equality and inclusion among others; all to be achieved by 2030.

Aliyu, who was represented by Mr Musa Abanka, CSACEFA’s Zonal Coordinator, said setting roadmaps would build a clear mechanism for transparency that would allow for active and meaningful participation of all.

The national coordinator said this would in turn provide free qualitative education for all in the country.

He also urged the government to strengthen public systems, states and local institutions to monitor and ensure that education was of quality and equitable standards.

According to him, the Federal Government has signed into the global commitment of ensuring 12 years free, quality and inclusive education for all by 2030, which must be achieved.

‘‘The SDGs cover every aspect of our social, political and economic lives and the SDG4 underpins them all.

‘‘To fully achieve the 17 goals, proper attention must be paid to goal 4.

‘‘Consequently, we should not lose thrust; we need sustained and active citizen’s participation to hold government to account for the goals,’’ he stressed.

He also said that despite commitment to fulfil promises, education was still poorly funded, adding that only seven per cent of the annual budget was allocated for education in the 2018 budget.

Aliyu said this was a far cry from the UNESCO’s recommendation of at least 20 per cent of the nation’s budget.

He also said that most states in the country had refused to access the Universal Basic Education Fund with over N78 billion unclaimed in the Central Bank.

Aliyu noted that the development would not assist the nation to improve the quality of education to citizens.

He called on stakeholders to renew commitment to and come up with modalities that would further guide in meeting the promises toward achieving the success of the goal of SDG4.

Dr Nawani Aboki, Executive Director, Centre for Women Youth and Community Action, Lafia, called on government to develop fund and implement credible plans for the implementation of full SDG4 agenda.

He also stressed the need to promote Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the implementation of the goal.

Aboki appealed to government at all levels to honour their promises toward implementing the goal.

Responding, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said the ministry had considered the dire need for synergy at the three levels of government and aggressive grassroots participation in articulating projects and programmes for the citizenry.

Adamu was represented by Mrs Liman Khadisah, Deputy Director, Education Management and Programme Coordinator of the ministry.

He also said the ministry had taken numerous steps to ensure everyone was carried along to achieve the goal.

‘‘The ministry has come out with its targets, turnaround strategies and timelines regarding the challenge of the out-of-school children syndrome which would largely militate against the attainment of SDG4.

‘‘Community ownership of our schools has been secured whereby the voices of women and children count in schools governance. This is through instituting the school based management committees in our schools.’’

Adamu assured that the ministry would continue to engage stakeholders, periodically, for curriculum review, restructuring and alignment at all levels of education.

He promised the ministry’s continued accountability and loyalty toward placing Nigeria at a good pedestal in achieving the SDGs by 2030.