Gombe State to jail parents who fail to enroll their children in school

The Gombe State government has declared it will prosecute parents and guardians who fail to send their children to school, enforcing education laws to ensure full enrolment in the 2025/2026 academic session.
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During the launch of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Drive in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, Babaji Babadidi, Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that parents neglecting their responsibility could face up to two months imprisonment under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021. He noted that the state previously employed incentives such as free education to encourage attendance, but warned that the government would revert to legal enforcement if the target of enrolling 400,000 pupils is not achieved.
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The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, mentioned the overwhelming figure of over 700,000 out-of-school children in Gombe alone, stressing the need for statewide participation. She pointed out that the North-East region represents a large portion of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children. Maigari emphasized the importance of education not only for formal employment but also for entrepreneurship and skill acquisition, urging parents to support the state’s programs by ensuring their children attend school regularly.
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UNICEF’s Chief for Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described the high number of unattended children as a serious concern, stressing that the child’s right to education and the role of the enrolment campaign in addressing this challenge. Community and traditional leaders, including representatives of the Emir of Gona, have pledged support to mobilize families for increased participation.
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The event featured a symbolic enrolment of school-age children and out-of-school youths into both primary and post-basic education levels, in order to enhance educational access in the state.
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