Reprieve may have come for the
parents of the 125,000 pupils in the 104 Federal Government Colleges as the
Office of the Special Rapporteur on the right to
education and Office of the
Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons have
confirmed to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that they
are “studying and looking into the issues relating to the compulsory insurance
levy of N5,000 per student imposed by the government.”
The Special Rapporteur on the right
to education is also seeking “additional information on the scheme with
reference if possible to other documents – which detail the requirements of the
insurance scheme, along with any additional information you may have”
The development was disclosed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni in a statement dated 1 March 2015.
The development was disclosed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni in a statement dated 1 March 2015.
This followed an urgent appeal
submitted by SERAP to: Mr. Kishore Singh, Special Rapporteur on the right to
education; Mr. Chaloka Beyani, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of
internally displaced persons; Mr. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme
poverty and human rights; Mr. Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion
and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, and Gordon Brown,
Office of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education.
According to Mumuni, “SERAP welcomes
the urgent intervention and attention by Mr. Kishore Singh and Professor
Chaloka Beyani in this matter and looks forward to a positive resolution of the
matter by them. We hope that the other mandates will follow suit. Now that the
two UN mandates are engaged in the matter, the government of President Goodluck
Jonathan is strongly advised to suspend the implementation of this draconian
insurance policy pending the final determination of the matter by the special
rapporteurs.”
“This is important if the government
is not to prejudice the final outcome of the consideration of the matter by the
two mandates. As a member of the United Nations, Nigeria has a binding legal
obligation not to circumvent its rules or undermine the authority of its
mechanisms or render them impotent. Nigeria in fact should not be seen to be
making it harder for UN institutions to effectively discharge their mandates,”
Mumuni also said.
It would be recalled that SERAP had
on 24 February 2015 sent an urgent appeal to the four UN Special Rapporteurs
and the Special Envoy on Global Education over the imposition of compulsory
insurance scheme for students of the Federal Government Colleges.
In the appeal, the organization
asked the mandates to use their “good offices and positions to urgently request
the Nigerian government to immediately and unconditionally withdraw
exploitative insurance scheme imposed on the students on the excuse of
protection against attack and violence by Boko Haram.”
The organization also said that it
“Considers this insurance scheme to constitute an abusive practice and
renouncement of the obligation by the government to provide education as a
public good. The insurance scheme also flies into face of prohibited grounds of
discrimination and amounts to exploitation of the students and parents
involved, and a shocking attack on the right of access to education.”
“Rather than expanding public
educational opportunities for all Nigerian children especially children from
poor families, the government is restricting them, and commercialising
education. In its response to the Boko Haram, the government has not
prioritised the right of children to quality education. Many Nigerian children
are driven to Cameroon as refugees and made to recite Cameroon national anthem
as a precondition for attending school,” the organization also said.
“Imposing a mandatory insurance
scheme on students and their parents will also not contribute to better
security for the children. Inequalities in opportunities for education will be
exacerbated if this insurance scheme is allowed to continue. The government is
simply failing in its international human rights obligation to ensure the right
to education in a safe and protected environment that is conducive to
learning,” the organization said.
“All children have a right to access
school and be provided with quality education regardless of the circumstances
they live under.”
“SERAP is in possession of a
circular to this effect which was sent to the schools. According to the
circular, In view of the current security challenges in the country which has
impacted seriously on the safety of our students and teachers in Federal Unity
Colleges, the Ministry of Education has decided to engage the services of NICON
Insurance Company to insure our students. To this end, an Insurance Premium of
N5000 (Five Thousand Naira Only) is to be paid once in a year. Students are
hereby expected to pay the above amount through the college upon resumption for
third term.”
The organization therefore asked the
rapporteurs and special envoy to urgently ask the government to: immediately
and unconditionally withdraw the mandatory insurance scheme for students in
Federal Unity Colleges throughout the country, and to return any premium that
may have been paid; make every effort to ensure that school children are fully
protected throughout all of Nigeria; and to ensure that the Boko Haram and any
other extremist groups do not restrict the ability of Nigerian children to
realize their human rights and pursue their dreams.
UN probes N5000 insurance levy on unity schools
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on
Monday, March 02, 2015
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