Governor Hyacinth Alia has announced free education for pupils from Basic One to Basic Nine in all government-owned public schools across Benue State.
The governor made the declaration at the maiden Benue Basic Education Summit held at the College of Health Sciences, Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi.
Alia said the policy is aimed at providing access to quality education for children from poor and vulnerable backgrounds while laying a solid foundation for future leaders of the state. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the education sector, noting that over 9,700 teachers have been recruited, salaries are being paid consistently, and the harmonised retirement age for teachers is being implemented.
According to a statement by his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, the governor called on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to support the enforcement of free and compulsory basic education in the state.
“The future of Benue depends on our young ones. It is our duty as leaders to prepare them adequately,” the governor stated.
As part of efforts to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children, Alia also launched the “Building Rights to Access and Compulsory Education for Un-enrolled Pupils (BRACE-UP)” initiative. The strategy is designed to mobilise community leaders, parents, and teachers to identify out-of-school children, create flexible learning pathways, and track learners from enrollment to completion.
The governor assured that his administration would continue to provide catalytic funding and implement policies aligned with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act to prioritise free and compulsory basic education for every Benue child.
In a related development, the national leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), led by Comrade Audu Titus Amba, presented Governor Alia with a Golden Award for Education and Teacher Friendliness. The union said the honour recognises the administration’s efforts in revitalising basic education in the state.
Responding, Governor Alia pledged to pay one month’s arrears owed to retired teachers and reaffirmed his commitment to their welfare, stating, “You have taught me and I won’t cheat you.”