The Gombe State government has announced that parents and guardians who fail to enrol their children in school will face legal consequences, including possible imprisonment.
The warning was issued by Babaji Babadidi, Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), on Monday during the launch of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Campaign in Amada, Akko Local Government Area.
Under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021, defaulting parents can face a one- to two-month jail term or pay fines upon conviction.
“Every parent should ensure that their child or ward attends and completes primary, junior, and senior secondary education,” Babadidi said. “Subsequent convictions attract harsher penalties, including a two-month prison term.”
Babadidi emphasized that the campaign aims to enroll 400,000 students into primary schools.
He added that the government initially provided free education as a “carrot” approach but warned of stricter enforcement of the law if enrollment targets are not met.
Addressing the Out-of-School Crisis
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, highlighted that Gombe State has over 700,000 out-of-school children.
She noted that the North-East region contributes 15 per cent of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children.
“We cannot sit idle while children remain out of school,” Maigari said. “Every child will receive quality education and also learn a trade, which can enable them to become employers of labor through skills and entrepreneurship.”
She added that the government has invested heavily in educational materials, including exercise books and school bags, to support the initiative.
Stakeholders, UNICEF, and Traditional Leaders Back Campaign
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Field Office in Bauchi, described the number of out-of-school children in Gombe as “alarming” and urged full participation from parents and communities.
“Every child has the right to be in school, to receive quality education, and grow into a productive citizen,” she said.
Represented by Gadi Galadima, the Emir of Gona, Alhaji Umar Abdulsalam, lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya for the state’s improved investment in education and pledged the council’s support in mobilizing parents for the campaign.
