Nigeria's UBE Act 2004 makes 9 years of basic education (primary + junior secondary) free and compulsory. Schools cannot lawfully suspend or expel a child from basic education, and government must fund and provide these schools.
The Universal Basic Education Act 2004 (UBE Act) operationalises the constitutional right to basic education. It established the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to oversee its implementation. Key provisions: **Free and compulsory education**: Every child has the right to free, compulsory, and universal basic education for nine years — six years of primary school plus three years of junior secondary school. **Government duty**: It is the duty of the government (federal, state, and local) to provide basic education to every Nigerian child. This includes building and equipping schools, training teachers, and providing learning materials. **No lawful exclusion**: The UBE Act grants a continuous right to basic education that cannot be suspended because a parent cannot pay fees or levies. Schools operating within the UBE framework cannot lawfully exclude children from the first nine years of schooling. **UBEC oversight (s. 4)**: The Universal Basic Education Commission shall monitor and ensure proper utilisation of funds and oversee implementation across states. Complaints about denial of access to public basic education can be made to the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Federal Ministry of Education, or the NHRC.
A public primary school sends a child home for not paying a PTA levy of ₦5,000. Under the UBE Act, basic education in public schools is free and compulsory — the school cannot exclude a child for non-payment of levies. The parents report to the state SUBEB.
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