With the 2018 data on out of school children in Nigeria at 13.2 million according to UNICEF reports, the National Economic Council (NEC) has however directed the 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to provide data on out-of-school children in their various states.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi said this while briefing State House correspondents after Thursday’s NEC meeting in Abuja, which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Bagudu said the step was aimed at having a similar template for reporting development nationwide.

He said the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, briefed the council, giving an update on the aggregate figures of state-by-state on the numbers of out-of-school children and their concentration.

He also said that the minister gave details of government’s plans on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Bagudu said that NEC adopted the summary budget and added that action on education in the states from 2009 till date would be forwarded to it through the Governors’ Forum.