The Gombe state government states that it will prosecute parents and guardians who fail to send their children to school.
Babaji Babadidi, Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), stated this on Monday at the inauguration of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Campaign in Amada, Akko Local Government Area of the state.
He said that defaulting parents could face a two-month jail term under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021.
Babadidi said the measure was necessary to ensure that every child has access to quality basic education.
“Every parent should ensure that their child or ward attends and completes primary, junior and senior secondary education.
“Any parent, who contravenes Section 19(2) of the law commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to pay a fine or serve a one-month prison sentence.
“Subsequent convictions also attract a substantial fine or imprisonment for a term of two months,” he said.
Babadidi said that prior to this enrollment campaign, the state government adopted a carrot approach by providing free education.
However, if we fail to meet our target of enrolling 400,000 students into primary schools this session, we will revert to the stick approach by enforcing the law.”
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, said the state has over 700,000 out-of-school children.
