The Gombe State Government has warned parents and guardians that they risk jail if they fail to send their children to school.
Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Babaji Babadidi, gave the warning on Monday at the launch of the 2025/2026 School Enrollment Campaign in Amada, Akko Local Government Area.
Babadidi explained that under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021, parents who refuse to enroll their children face punishment.
“Every parent should ensure that their 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.
He noted that the state had earlier used a carrot approach by offering free education and school materials, but may now enforce the law if targets are not met.
“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,” Babadidi warned.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, revealed that Gombe has over 700,000 out-of-school children. She added that the Northeast alone accounts for 15 percent 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 the government. An educated person can become an employer of labour through skills and entrepreneurship acquired in school,” Maigari said.
She explained that the government had provided exercise books, bags, and other learning materials, and urged parents to do their part.
Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Bauchi, described the out-of-school figure as “alarming” and stressed that every child has the right to education.
“Every child has the right to be in school, to receive quality education, and to grow into a productive citizen of society,” Rafique said, calling the campaign a critical moment.
The Emir of Gona, Alhaji Umar Abdulsalam, represented by Gadi Galadima, pledged support for the campaign and praised Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s efforts in improving the sector.
The event featured symbolic enrollment of school-age children into Primary 1 and post-basic classes for those previously out of school.
