President Muhammadu Buhari has urged state governors to prioritize education and security in their states during the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) with the governors in Abuja on Thursday.

The President reiterated the need for education to be a priority after citing a part of section 18 of the 1999 Constitution (amended) that if they fail to provide schools, teachers and basic educational infrastructures in their states it will be a crime in keeping school age children out of school.

The composition of the NEC is made up of the vice-president (Chairman), state governors and top government officials handling economic affairs in the country.

The President said, on education, I want to stress in particular the need to take very seriously and enforce very rigorously the statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education. Section 18(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, places on all of us here an obligation to eradicate illiteracy and provide free and compulsory education.

“Section 2 of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act provides that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age. It is indeed a crime for any parent to keep his child out of school for this period. In my view, when a government fails to provide the schools, teachers and teaching materials necessary for basic education, it is actually aiding and abetting that crime.

“This is therefore a call to action. I would like to see every governor rise from this meeting and rally his local government chairmen towards ensuring that our schools offer the right opportunities and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education, at the minimum. If we are able to do this, the benefits will surely manifest themselves.

“Ensuring proper education during the first nine years of schooling means that our children start off their lives with some discipline and education. They will be safeguarded from roaming the streets, and protected from all the evil influences that assail idle hands and idle minds.

He added, “Whatever they choose to do thereafter, children with basic education will be better prepared to learn and to appreciate their own role in society. This will also go a long way in solving our security and other anti-social problems, which are often the manifestations of early delinquency.

“I therefore think every governor here should make a firm commitment to be personally involved in ensuring that every child of school age actually goes to school throughout the crucial nine years of basic education”.

The President hinted on the state of insecurity urging the Governors to be involved in providing security for the country by collaborating with the various security agencies and also formulating policies that will foster peace and religious harmony in the country.

In his words, “while the federal government has primary responsibility for security and will not shy away from it, the states also have a critical role to play.

but also by keenly pursuing policies and programmes that forestall communal, tribal, religious and societal conflicts; policies and programmes that promote education, information, dispute resolution, vocational training and youth employment”.