ESTABLISHING THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ON EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Apart from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 1983, there are other statutes enacted by the National Assembly of Nigeria for the actualisation of the educational objectives in Nigeria. Against this background, the author undertook, in atomistic detail, a contemporary discourse on the subsisting frameworks regulating, promoting and protecting education in Nigeria. The paper examined such frameworks as the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004; Child Rights Act 2003; National Secondary Education Commission Act 1985; National Board for Technical Education Act 1977; National Commission for Nomadic Education Act 1989; National Commission for Mass Literacy; Adult and Non-Formal Education Act 1990; National Commission for Colleges of Education Act 1989; National Universities Commission Act 1974; Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act 1985, National Educational Research and Development Council Act 1987 and the National Teacher’s Institute Act 1978, which cumulatively operated in regulating, protecting and promoting education in Nigeria. The author argued on the adequacy or inadequacy of laws regulating, promoting and protecting education in Nigeria. The author maintained that though the laws regulating and promoting education in Nigeria are numerous, some of the provisions of these laws are inadequate, unclear and ambiguous. The paper concluded that having a portent and vibrant framework would facilitate and enhance the quality of education, to wit: accessibility and impacting of knowledge.