The Gombe State Government has said it will prosecute parents and guardians who fail to send their children to school.
Babaji Babadidi, the Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said this on Monday at the inauguration of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Campaign at Amada in the Akko Local Government Area of the state.
He said defaulting parents could face a two-month jail term under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021. Babadidi said the measure was necessary to ensure that every child has access to quality basic education.
“Every parent should ensure that his child or ward attends and completes primary, junior, and senior secondary education.
“Any parent who contravenes Section 19(2) of the law commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to pay a fine or serve a one-month prison sentence.
“Subsequent convictions also attract a substantial fine or imprisonment for a term of two months,” he said.
Babadidi said prior to this enrollment campaign, the state government adopted a carrot approach by providing free education.
“However, if we fail to meet our target of enrolling 400,000 students into primary schools this session, we will revert to the stick approach by enforcing the law.”
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, said the state has over 700,000 out-of-school children.
According to Maigari, the Northeast region accounts for 15 per cent of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children.
“We cannot sit and fold our arms while our children remain out-of-school. We will ensure every child is enrolled. Every child will receive quality education, and also learn a trade, which does not necessarily mean working for government.
“An educated person can become an employer of labour through skills and entrepreneurship acquired in school,”she said.
Maigari said the state government made massive investments to enhance access to quality education, and urged parents to reciprocate the gesture by sending their wards to school.
“We have supported the children with exercise books, school bags, and other school materials,” she said.
The commissioner commended community leaders for mobilising parents to enrol their children in schools.
Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF, Field Office Bauchi, described the number of the out-of-school children in Gombe state as “alarming”.
According to Rafique, UNICEF works to uphold children’s rights, especially access to education.
“Every child has the right to be in school, to receive quality education, and grow into a productive citizen of society.”
She described the enrolment campaign as a critical moment, and urged parents, children and stakeholders to support the programme.
The Emir of Gona, Alhaji Umar Abdulsalam, pleged his council readiness to mobilise participation in the campaign.
Represented by Gadi Galadima, the emir lauded Gov. Inuwa Yahaya over improved investment in the education sector.
Highlight of the event featured symbolic enrolment of school-age children into Primary I, and out-of-school children into post basic school.
