The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone - B has berated the Federal Government over the population of Nigerian children who are illiterate, describing it as alarming.

The National President of the zone, Comrade Dele Atunbi in a statement in Ibadan on Tuesday, lamented that with ten million Nigerian children who were still illiterate in this 21st century, the Nigerian nation will likely be in want of human capital in future.

With this development, the NUJ was of the view that in a global village that is technologically driven with supersonic speed, Nigeria might continue to be a developing nation and developing economy perpetually. It said that the situation was pathetic and calls for concerted efforts to reverse the unfortunate trend.

The NUJ challenges all the tiers of government to give premium to the education of the Nigerian child for the country not to be turned to the provider of cheap labour with its attendant effects on our economy.  It pointed out that Nigeria as the giant of Africa cannot afford to be complacent with the development as the situation speaks volume about a bleak future.

The union posited that what does the future portend when the future leaders of the country are not educated? It asserted that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in the education sector with emphasis on school enrolment as well free and compulsory primary education for every Nigerian child.

According to NUJ, apart from increased budgetary allocation to the sector couple with deliberate policies that will evolve conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, the Federal Government should also declare free education from primary to university level for every Nigerian.

It appealed to all major stakeholders in the education sector to be alive to their responsibilities to eradicate illiteracy among the Nigerian children, and advocated generational equity for the future leaders of the country not to be marooned.