24 APC governors elected under the platform of APC have resolved to implement free compulsory education, the bills will be forwarded to their respective houses of assembly. The three bills are titled Security Trust Fund, Collection and Administration of Revenue, and Universal Basic Education (UBE).
The Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), who was represented by his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, told newsmen that the moves were part of measures to ensure that policy initiatives of APC states were equally implemented and sustained in APC controlled states.
According to him this will help in the current economic realities and sustain healthy internal revenue, “State Security Coordinating Committee and Trust Fund for the States, is aimed at providing a robust, strategic, participatory and community grounded security architecture as a solution to the myriad of security challenges facing the Federal and State Governments.
“Security is also central to the realisation of the ideals of social justice, which is the cardinal anchor of the programme of the current government.
“Without adequate security, investors will be very reluctant to invest. Without adequate security, the people may not realise their full potentials.”
Okoroacha further stressed that the prototype bill was targeted at achieving the above, saying that it would help the states restrategise in the identification of their internal revenue.
“The prototype bill on compulsory, free universal education addresses issues of refusal to send pupils to school, charging fees and levies in public schools, membership of Universal Basic Education Commission, financing of the universal basic education, qualification to access funding,”
He added “this will differentiate us from PDP or any other party. It is like US where Republicans and Democrats are known for their ideological leanings, APC will be known for the ideology it stands for”.