A RECENT SURVEY BY MCARTHUR FOUNDATION HAS SHOWN THE NUMBER OF OUT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN NIGERIA HAS RISEN FROM 15 MILLION TO 18 MILLION.
MCARTHUR FOUNDATION SAID THIS IN A DIALOGUE ON SITUATING CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS IN ELECTIONEERING ORGANISED BY THE ORDER PAPER IN COLLABORATION WITH MCARTHUR FOUNDATION AND BUDGIT, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MCARTHUR FOUNDATION, DAYO OLAIDE, SAYS NIGERIANS MUST ENSURE THAT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS DO NOT ONLY MAKE LAWS, BUT SHOULD ENSURE THE LAWS IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE.
OLAIDE SAYS ACCOUNTABILITY IS A CRITICAL ASPECT OF GOVERNANCE AND BECAME THE MOST IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS APART FROM INSECURITY WHICH MCARTHUR FOUNDATION HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE IN MANY ASPECTS INCLUDING HUMAN RIGHTS, EDUCATION AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY.
THE MCARTHUR FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE SAYS IT IS SAD THAT OUT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN ROSE FROM 15 MILLION TO 18 MILLION DESPITE THE LAWS BEING MADE BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE PASSAGE OF A BUDGET WITH EDUCATION SPENDING AND CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS INCLUSIVE SAYING THE IMPACT OF THE LAW WILL NEVER BE FELT UNLESS IT IS IMPLEMENTED.
HE HAS HOWEVER CHARGED NIGERIANS TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY WOMEN ARE SAVED, HOW MANY GIRLS RETURN TO SCHOOLS AS A RESULT OF THE LAWS OR THE BUDGET PASSED.