Govt’s. commitment, responsible for educational development in Sokoto – Stakeholders
Education
By Habibu Harisu
Sokoto, Feb. 20, 2020 (NAN) Stakeholders in educational project in Sokoto State on Thursday said remarkable improvements have been made as a result of government’s commitment in according access to public education system across the state.
The stakeholders made the observation on during a Periodic Reflection and Action Meeting of the project in Sokoto.
The project tagged “Tax Justice and Gender Responsive Public Service and Breaking Barriers” was anchored by two NGOs, Rural Women and Youth Development (RUWOYD) and ActionAid Nigeria.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that two projects were merged into one and is being supported by Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD).
Participants led by District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, said no fewer than seven resolutions among 11 targeted goals line up during Fiscal Governance for Effective Gender Responsive Service Delivery training held in 2019 had been fully achieved.
He added that others were on the pipeline.
The participants commended the state government for enacting law that restructured the State Board for Internal Revenue where it established Sokoto State Revenue Service.
It was noted that the new Tax collection agency was bestowed with autonomous functions as well as repel some obsolete laws on tax amounts and collectable sources.
They observed that previous tax system of the state which was characterised by loopholes that resulted in leakages of tax revenues, undermining the revenue base had been enhanced through automation and blocking leakages.
Other areas include enhancing educational infrastructure, teachers’ capacity, management coordination and parents’/teachers’ relationship.
The group noted that the state government budget preparation had been participatory with inputs from divers’, actors as well as channeled to be gender responsive, especially needs of girls and marginalised children, women, youth and the vulnerable.
In his remarks, Mr Joseph Julius, the Facilitator, said the aim of the project was to enable all children; especially girls and marginalised children have access to free, quality, publicly-funded, inclusive education.
According to Julius, the effort is geared towards ensuring that governments take actions to increase the size of national budgets by rising fair tax particularly corporate tax.
He said others include that governments should increase the share of funds allocated to and spent on free, quality, inclusive public education.
“A strong, active movement of community and civil society structures to effectively scrutinise education budgets and expenditure.
“Public education policies, systems and expenditure should be sensitive to rights of girls and marginalised children,” Julius said.
He said the project was being implemented in Sokoto and Lagos states with total grant of 6.2 million dollars covering Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania from July 2017 to Dec. 31, 2021.
According to him, 30 schools were selected in Lagos and Sokoto states noting that in Sokoto five schools have been selected each in Binji, Tambuwal and Sokoto South Local Government Areas.
Julius said that other working partners were Human Development Initiative,Tax Justice, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA) and National Union of Teachers (NUT).(NAN)
HMH/COO/ MTM
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Edited by Cecilia Odey