By MUHAMMAD NASIR

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has shelved a private member’s bill seeking to make the teaching of Caliphate history compulsory in Basic and Secondary Schools across the state.

The bill, which also proposed optional teaching of Arabic and Fulfulde languages, aimed to ensure that students learn about the history of the Sokoto Caliphate, its founding leaders, and their contributions to the development of humanity.

At its plenary on Thursday, the assembly adopted the recommendation of the House Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, presented by its Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu (APC–Yabo), to shelve the bill.

Shehu explained that after conducting a stakeholders’ meeting and analyzing submissions, the committee found that the bill’s objectives were not realistic.

According to him, the State Ministry of Basic Education—being a critical stakeholder—lacks the mandate to develop curriculum or create new subjects.

He explained that such responsibilities fall under the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the National Council on Education (NCE).

Shehu further said that the history of the Sokoto Caliphate and its founding leaders was already taught as a topic under the History subject, while Arabic was already offered as an optional subject in schools.

“In view of these findings, the committee recommended that the bill be shelved,” Shehu said.

Following contributions from lawmakers, the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim (APC–Kwara), who presided over the session, put the recommendation to a voice vote, which was unanimously adopted.

In a related development, the assembly has considered the report of its Committee on Religious Affairs, which commended Gov. Ahmad Aliyu for supporting the 2025 state pilgrims.

Presenting the report, the committee’s Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, said the Governor’s magnanimous gesture of providing each of the 3,232 pilgrims with 1,000 Saudi Riyals was highly commendable.

He added that during oversight activities carried out between October 2024 and September 2025, the committee observed negligence by some contractors handling projects under the Ministry for Religious Affairs.

“Some contractors engaged for the renovation of Juma’at Mosques and schools failed to meet contract specifications,” Shehu said.

The committee recommended that the ministry enforce strict compliance with contract terms and liaise with the relevant ministries to process variations where necessary, while keeping the assembly updated on its activities.

Meanwhile, the assembly has adopted three separate motions seeking the construction of a 35 km road in Gudu LGA, the reconnection of Wurno town and five surrounding villages to the national grid, and the renovation of the Technical College in Binji LGA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motions were sponsored by the trio of Yahaya Amadu (APC–Gudu), Shamsu Aliyu (APC–Wurno), and Tukur Umar (APC–Binji), respectively. (NAN)