Mandatory School Enrollment: Senate’s Proposed Bill Warns Of Jail For Parents

The Senate has also recommended free meals for every child in the country. Senator Orji Kalu introduced a bill titled “Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Section 2,” which mandates every government in Nigeria to provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age…CONTINUE READING

The act also emphasizes that every parent must ensure that their child or ward attends and completes their primary school and junior secondary school education by sending them to these schools.

It further states that stakeholders in education within a local government area are responsible for ensuring that every parent or guardian fulfills this duty.

The act specifies penalties for parents who fail to comply with these provisions. Upon the first conviction, they may be reprimanded.

For a second conviction, they may face a fine of N2,000 or imprisonment for one month, or both. Subsequent convictions can result in a fine of N5,000 or imprisonment for two months, or both.

In the Senate’s proposed amendments, fines are significantly increased. Instead of the N5,000 stated in the Act, they propose a fine of N50,000. For Section 3(2) of the Principal Act, which originally set a fine of N10,000, the Senate suggests an increase to N100,000.

The amended bill also emphasizes that a person who receives or obtains any fee contrary to the provisions of the act commits an offense and may be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N10,000 or imprisonment for three months, or both. The Senate’s proposal is to replace N10,000 with N100,000.