Benue State Government has unveiled a free basic education policy covering all pupils in government-owned public schools from Basic One through Basic Nine.
Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the initiative on Friday, the 20th of February, 2026, during the maiden Benue Basic Education Summit held at the College of Health Sciences, Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi.
According to the governor, the policy reflects his administration’s resolve to ensure that every school-age child has access to education without financial barriers. He noted that the measure is designed to ease the burden on disadvantaged families while laying a solid academic foundation for the state’s next generation of leaders.
Alia outlined reforms already implemented within the education sector, including the employment of more than 9,700 teachers, consistent salary payments, and enforcement of the harmonised retirement age for teachers.
He appealed to parents, traditional institutions, religious bodies, and other stakeholders to back the enforcement of compulsory basic education, stressing that the state’s long-term development hinges on investing in its children.
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To further address the issue of out-of-school children, the governor also introduced a new programme titled Building Rights to Access and Compulsory Education for Un-enrolled Pupils (BRACE-UP).
He explained that the initiative would involve community mobilisation to identify children outside the school system, provide flexible learning options, and monitor their progress from enrolment to completion.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained funding and policy backing in alignment with the Universal Basic Education framework.