- Lagos Assembly Tasks Sanwo-Olu on Guidance, Counselling Units in Schools
- The Assembly expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of young people in social vices
- Calls for the recruitment of qualified counsellors
The Lagos State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, has passed a resolution calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure the establishment of functional Guidance and Counselling Units in all primary and secondary schools across the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the lawmakers said the initiative was crucial to addressing the rising psychological, social, and emotional challenges among students, including substance abuse, cultism, internet fraud, and career indecision.
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During Thursday’s plenary session (No. 595), members of the House expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of young people in social vices and the lack of structured, professional counselling support in many schools.
They noted that while some schools informally assign teachers to pastoral or mentoring roles, most lack trained counsellors or functional counselling departments contrary to the National Policy on Education (6th Edition, 2013), which mandates guidance and counselling services in educational institutions.
The Assembly stressed that education must go beyond academics to include character formation, emotional intelligence, and life skills, adding that early intervention can significantly reduce delinquency and improve students’ mental well-being.
The resolution, unanimously adopted, urged the Governor to direct the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to immediately establish and adequately staff counselling units in all public schools, while also enforcing compliance among private institutions.
Lawmakers further called for the recruitment of qualified counsellors, continuous training, parental engagement, partnerships with civil society and mental health professionals, and regular monitoring to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the initiative.
They concluded that the move would help build a morally upright generation, enhance academic performance, and prepare students to meet future challenges with resilience and integrity.
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