Lagos lawmakers must set example with Safe School Declaration bill, stakeholders
A cross section of stakeholders in the education sector has called on the Lagos State House of Assemble to immediately initiate action for a bill on Safe School Declaration in the state in order to enable the state government to adopt and express support for the problem of lack of safety and security in schools in the state.
They expressed concerns over the slow pace of responses by state legislators in the country to legislate on the SSD bills presented before them by various stakeholders, Non-Governmental Organisations and individuals since 2018 when the federal government adopted the Safe Schools Declaration.
Speaking at a Two-day meeting titled ‘Financing Plan for the Implementation of the Safe School Declaration (SSD) in Lagos State’, participants challenged the Lagos legislators to commence the process of deliberations on the bill for the state and urged them to take the lead to make Lagos state an example to others in the country.
Speaking, National Network Coordinator, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, (WANEP) Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe said the state and the country at large must urgently put in place measures that ensure the safety of the young generation in places of learning.
WANEP Nigeria National Network Coordinator, Dr Bridget Osakwe
Dr. Osakwe, who was represented by WANEP Head of Programme, Patience Ikpeh Obaulo urged participants not to rest on their oars in the effort to push for the legal entities and binding framework and resource plan for implementing the Safe School Declaration, and raising public awareness about it in the country.
The founder of the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, explained that the project seeks to achieve strengthening partnerships among all relevant sectors, especially as it relates to the development of a costed action plan to help participants so that they will be able to cost what it will take to finance safe school for all the states where the project is running.
Founder, Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Dr Abiola, represented by the WARDC National Project Coordinator for SSD, Jennifer Nwokedike disclosed that “At the national level, the bill has gone past the first reading. That is what we want to see in Lagos state. We want that bill to go through the House of Assembly, for them to pass the Safe School bill, so it becomes a law. And then, of course, with this training for the sector, for education sectors, it will also enable them to be able to cost what it will take to finance it, and of course, get the government to do the needful at the state level to support safe school finance.”
She added that “I know Lagos State is doing a lot with regards to safe school policy, but of course, as much as commendable as that is, we would like to see the bill passed by the legislators in Lagos State.”
On her part, the Nigerian Police Officer in charge of Safe School Project, Lagos state police command and Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ojodu, Chief Superintendent of Police, Opadola Elizabeth told journalists that “It is very essential that the schools within Lagos State are safe. When the schools are safe, it therefore enables the students and also gives them a conducive environment for learning, and also in keeping the school safe. It’s not only about the students; it also has to do with the teachers as well and all the infrastructure”
The DPO said “other states have started, but we are relying and hoping that Lagos state, being the center of excellence, would kick start up.”
Also, a member of the Lagos State Safe School Technical Working Group, Mr. Richard Odeyemi declared that “we are well prepared. We are well organized. So, we will be visiting the state House of Assembly very soon, in order to also let them know that it is of essence we all need, they need to legislate a law in this regard.
“I thank God as well that the bill has already been sent to some state Houses of Assembly, and Lagos State also. We also want to have something that we refer to as empirical evidence. And if it has been sent to some state House of Assembly, we can use that as empirical evidence for that of Lagos State, and if, for example the Lagos State legislators append their signatures, once their signature to it is legislated into law, all other states will follow suit. I’m very sure of that. But from our own side, we are carrying it along. We are going to drum up support and we are going to campaign towards that.” He said.
