Nigerian Senate has faulted the failure of some state governors to access available education intervention funds, even as it moves to strengthen the funding, administration and oversight of public senior secondary schools.
The concern was raised during plenary on Tuesday as the red chamber considered the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District.
The bill, which scaled second reading, seeks to establish education boards at state and Federal Capital Territory, FCT levels and extend targeted interventions to federal unity colleges and senior secondary schools operated by the Armed Forces.
The Senate Leader, however, cautioned that legislative amendments alone would not guarantee improved educational outcomes without transparent funding arrangements, effective monitoring and proper accountability.
Supporting the bill, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno and some federal lawmakers said improved funding and coordination would make quality senior secondary education more accessible to communities across the country.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole raised concerns about the legislative procedure, questioning why lawmakers were expected to consider amendments to an existing law without having copies of the proposed legislation available for scrutiny.
Despite the objection, the Senate passed the bill for second reading through a voice vote and referred it for further legislative consideration.
The proposed amendment comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over inadequate school facilities, insufficient instructional materials and unequal access to quality learning resources across the country.
The bill seeks to strengthen the institutional framework for addressing these challenges through improved coordination between the commission and relevant authorities at federal and state levels.
Meanwhile, the Senate urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies, particularly the Ecological Project Office, to urgently address the erosion threatening Bogoro community in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District.
The lawmakers called for immediate measures to protect residents and their property, while urging the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to communities affected by flooding and erosion.
In a related development, the Senate received the report of its Committee on Foreign Affairs on the nomination of Sani Ndanusa as an ambassador. The committee endorsed the nominee.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
