Neglect in Early Childhood Care: The Urgent Need for Nanny Accountability at Jigawa State College of Education and Legal Studies, Ringim Demonstration School

Abstract

This position paper examines neglect in early childhood care, with a specific focus on nanny accountability at the Jigawa State College of Education and Legal Studies, Ringim Demonstration School, in Jigawa State, northern Nigeria. Grounded in Bronfenbrenn er’s ecological systems theory, the paper analyses neglect as a phenomenon shaped by interlocking microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem factors rather than as an isolated individual failure. Early childhood care and education (ECCE) is universally recognised as foundational for holistic child development; yet, in resource -constrained environments such as northern Nigeria, systemic gaps including inadequate caregiver training, weak accountability frameworks, and gender-driven undervaluation of caregiving work undermine the delivery of quality care. Drawing on established child development literature, national ECCE policy documents, and Jigawa State’s socio -institutional context, this paper argues that observed instances of neglect manifested through insufficient supervision, unresponsive caregiving, and safety protocol lapses violate children’s rights and compromise the institution’s mandate as a model teacher training centre. To address methodological limitations inherent in a position paper, all claims about current practices are explicitly labelled as observationally based or as areas requiring systematic empirical investigation. The paper concludes with targeted, evidence -informed recommendations for administrators, teachers, parents, and policymakers aimed at establishing robust accountability frameworks and elevating ECCE quality in Jigawa State.