Lagos education budget almost one-third of FG’s, says Ambode
Lagos State’s 2016 Budget for the Education Sector, which is N113.3 billion and represented 17.11 per cent of the state’s total budget is about one-third of the N369 billion budgeted by the Federal Government for the sector.
The budget for the sector is also more than one-third of the N300 billion budgeted by the 17 Northern states of the federation for the same purpose.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State made this revelation while addressing audience at the grand finale of the state government’s activities organised to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration held at the Nigeria Police College Parade Ground in Ikeja at the weekend.
Speaking on the theme of the celebration, “Stop violence against children,” through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Ambode warned that anyone who perpetrated violence against children in any form – be it physical, sexual, psychological, deliberate neglect, kidnap and child trafficking – would be dealt with according to the dictates of the law.
While assuring the children of a bright future, he urged them to work hard and be committed to their studies and shun examination malpractice so as not to truncate their future.
According to him, although it was noteworthy that the percentage of students who scored credit passes and above in five subjects including Mathematics and English language in WASSCE in 2011 has increased from 17.40 % to 41.06 in 2015, the increment is not an acceptable standard for this government. So, we expect a better result from the SS3 students in the just concluded WASSCE.
He however commended the improvement in the sector, attributing it mostly to the committed and dedicated staff, as well as various co-curricular activities such as debates and quizzes the students were exposed to.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, urged students to give their studies a deserved attention, saying doing so would help them in no small measure to attain greatness in life.
