Senate poised to ensure adequate funding of education – Wamakko

By  Ado Hassan, Sokoto

The chairman,  Senate committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has said that no state will be left out of the  committee’s strategic assignments of ensuring adequate funding of critical infrastructure of basic and secondary education.

Speaking in a chat with a group of journalists in Sokoto, Wamakko noted that basic and secondary education were foundation process for acquiring knowledge which should not be neglected.

According to him, the provision of 2% of the consolidation revenue to the duo was too low to tackle the myriad of challenges, saying ” we are demanding an upward review to 4%.

” We are doing our best to justify the confidence reposed on us through proper oversight as well commitment to tackling challenges in line with the laws governing the operations of MDAs.

The Sokoto North District Senator further said the senate through his committee was also looking into the critical need for reviewing vague laws by making some amendments to enable states overcome the burden and cumbersomeness of accessing UBEC intervention funds to finance infrastructure needs of their basic and secondary education.

” We have also charged the agencies to intensify supervision of functional structures by ensuring adequate use for learning as well encourage feed back.

” It is a wide area. Each of the aspects and components can stand on their own‎ while we encourage interaction and responsive oversight on them over their operations(MDAs), accounting, guide lines and procedures with a view to understand their challenges and fine tune or repeal cumbersome areas of necessary concern e.g the National Library, TRC, JAMB, NECO among others”, he said.

Wamakko, however, explained that the committee dwelled on a framework that synchronises basic interactive measures and oversight of MDAs by identifying with their operations and challenges as well assist them in overcoming the problems.

In the same vein, the former governor who spoke on his transformation from executive level to a legislation, explained that it was exciting combining both roles describing it as a life experience.

” It is not a new thing and I am not new to making laws. I was a clerk of the state assembly. My been in the Senate has also improved my profile and I read journals and other published materials”, he mentioned.

According to the APC law maker” laws are made to serve mankind and not the other way. Some are cumbersome or one legged and others can be obsolete but can be made to be better laws as they are human acts so, there may be some errors”, he explained.

On the process of law making, Wamakko said it was largely committee driven, adding that” any member interested in a matter can raise a bill or motion for enactment which passes first, second and third readings. And in some cases, calls for public hearing before final passage to the executive or otherwise.”

He said ” I have sponsored and co-sponsored a number of bills and motions including Bill to amend the UBEC law of 2004, pension Act, the Bill to establish Federal polytechnic Silame in Sokoto state now at the second reading stage and a public hearing in the process, that of the establishment of the National Commission on Child Destitution in Nigeria, especially concerning the menace and trend of begging”Almajiri” as well supported motions and debates “, he explained.

Wamakko also braced support for the retention of the existing bi-cameral legislature,  noting that the country’s population and democratic ideal, demanded nothing short of a bi-cameral legislature.

” It is the best thing that can happen to our country. It is one visible mechanism that drives Nigeria on the path of democratic success as a nation. Variety is fundamental and necessary in a true and people oriented democracy where each part and constituents are represented and respected in the course of state  affairs. It solves the problem of psychological distance, peculiarities and needs.

” This has helped the law makers to smoothly harmonise certain aspects of legislations at joint committees activities which promotes mutual understanding of obligations binding on us.”

He further stressed the need  for a more cordial and robust working relations between the executive and legislature  while respecting the principles of separation of powers.

” Our hope is to we strengthen and build an unprecedented confidence in the electorates who gave us the mandate by carrying them along  in all we do as their representatives through ensuring good laws are made in the spirit of transparency for good governance with mission and vision of making Nigeria a pride to children yet unborn”, he concluded