The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to make the teaching and learning local languages compulsory in all primary schools across Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Bello Ambarura (Illela/Gwadabawa, Sokoto State) and Speaker of the House, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, seeks to mandate teaching indigenous languages from Primary One to Primary Three in schools nationwide.
They maintained that early education in local languages would help children easily grasp foundational concepts and bridge cultural educational gaps.
“This bill is timely and crucial,” Hon Ambarura said at plenary. “Teaching children in their mother tongues, especially in the early years of education, fosters better understanding and lays a stronger educational foundation.”
Dr Abbas also stressed the bill’s importance, noting that it aligns with global best practices where native-language instruction is prioritised in foundational education. He pointed to the potential of the bill to strengthen national identity and promote cultural diversity.
Following a generally supportive debate, the bill passed a second reading without major opposition and was subsequently referred to relevant committees for further legislative input and refinement. If eventually passed into law and assented to by the President, the legislation will require the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant state bodies to develop curricula and teacher training programmes to implement local language instruction effectively.
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