Civil society organizations and education experts have urged the federal government to collaborate with the National Assembly to establish strict legal penalties for those responsible for attacks on schools and educational institutions across the country.
This call was made during an expert meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, focused on validating the draft legislation for the Safe School Declaration (SSD) bill and domesticating the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools (NPSSV-FS).
The meeting was organized by the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and other stakeholders including SISWACHI, WANEP Nigeria, and the Riplington Education Initiative (REI).
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the founding Executive Director of WARDC, emphasized the need for broader public engagement on the issue.
“The conversation on the Safe Schools Declaration has shifted from being a dialogue between federal ministries and civil society organizations to an issue of public concern and participation,” she stated.
Akiyode-Afolabi highlighted that despite the SSD’s adoption, many schools in Nigeria have yet to comply with its protocols.
“The SSD is yet to be fully implemented, and schools across the country still do not comply with the standard protocols in line with the SSD.
Much cannot be achieved without government leadership at both national and state levels,” she added.
She also pointed out key provisions in the proposed bill, including a 10-year imprisonment and a fine equivalent to the cost of restoring or rebuilding schools for anyone convicted of attacking or destroying educational institutions.
“The attack or destruction of any school or learning institution during armed conflict is prohibited, and the government is mandated to investigate and prosecute offenders,” she noted.
Dr. Anthony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, cited Nigeria’s experience with numerous attacks on schools, including the infamous incidents in Chibok, Dapchi, and Kaduna.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding education, following the signing of the Safe Schools Declaration in 2019.
Ojukwu urged all Nigerians to view the protection of schools as a collective responsibility, not just that of the government.
Dr. Uche Onwuama, representing the Minister of Education, Prof. Amman Tahir, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring school safety through legislative and judicial means.
“The government is committed to ensuring the safety of all schools in the country, including using legislative and judicial instrumentality,” Onwuama stated.
The meeting underscored the importance of government, civil society, and community collaboration to ensure the full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration and the protection of educational institutions nationwide.
