The Universal Basic Education program was introduced by the federal government in 1999 as a reform initiative aimed at ensuring quality basic education in Nigeria. Key components of the UBE act requires every tiers of government to provide compulsory free Universal Basic Education for every child in primary or junior secondary school as well as penalties for parents who default in sending their wards to school. However the reality on ground with over 10 million out of school children indicates non adherence of the UBE act. This however may not be unconnected to reasons behind series of capacity building Programme for state lawmakers organised by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in Abuja. The focus this time is on lawmakers from the North East and South South geopolitical zones.
