Gombe Threatens Jail for Parents Who Keep Children Out of School

Gombe Threatens Jail for Parents Who Keep Children Out of School

 

 

 

The Gombe State government has warned parents and guardians that failure to enrol their children in school could attract prosecution.

 

Babaji Babadidi, Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), issued the warning on Monday during the launch of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Campaign at Amada in Akko Local Government Area.

 

According to Babadidi, defaulting parents could face imprisonment for up to two months under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021.

 

“Every parent must ensure their child or ward completes primary, junior, and senior secondary education,” Babadidi said. “Any violation of Section 19(2) constitutes an offence and can attract a fine or a one-month prison term. Repeat offences may lead to imprisonment for two months.”

 

He noted that the state initially adopted a “carrot” approach by offering free education but warned that the government would adopt a “stick” approach if the target of enrolling 400,000 pupils into primary schools this session is not met.

 

Prof. Aishatu Maigari, Commissioner for Education, said Gombe currently has over 700,000 out-of-school children. She highlighted that the North-East region accounts for 15 per cent of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children.

 

“We cannot fold our arms while children remain out of school,” Maigari said. “Every child will receive quality education and acquire skills for entrepreneurship, not just employment in government.”

 

Maigari added that the state has invested heavily in education, providing exercise books, school bags, and other learning materials to support pupils. She also commended community leaders for mobilising parents to enrol children in schools.

 

Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Chief in Bauchi Field Office, described the number of out-of-school children in Gombe as “alarming” and stressed the importance of the enrolment campaign in protecting children’s rights to education.

 

The Emir of Gona, Alhaji Umar Abdulsalam, represented by Gadi Galadima, pledged the council’s support for the campaign, praising Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s efforts in the education sector.

 

The event featured the symbolic enrolment of school-age children into Primary 1 and out-of-school children into post-basic education.