• ASUU, CONUA, ASUP, AFED, others tell FG, seek increase in education budget
By Gabriel Dike, Fred Ezeh (Abuja), Scholastic Hir (Makurdi) and Noah Ebije (Kaduna)
Allocation of N3.52 trillion out of N47.96 trillion to the education sector in the 2025 budget is generating ripples, with divergent among stakeholders.
They expressed concern that the allocation did not meet expectations and even not enough to address the myriad of problems facing education, including outstanding demands of staff unions in tertiary institutions.
They argued that the N3.52 trillion, representing less than eight percent of the total budget, did not come close to UNESCO benchmark of 10 to 26 percent.
President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said: “It’s not about the figure. It might be high, but the value is nothing because inflation has affected the value of the money. The amount though sounds big, might not make any impact in the education sector in the 2025 fiscal year.
“To us, we are looking at the percentage and not the amount. This year’s allocation is about 7.2 per cent. This was a far cry from at least 15 per cent that was recommended. If education can’t receive the amount, it should be getting at least 10 or 12 per cent, and not this paltry sum of little above 7 per cent.
“In many African countries, the education sector is getting 15 per cent and above. Even in Nigeria here, states like Oyo, Enugu and Imo are allocated 15 and 20 per cent of their 2025 budget to education. That’s the way forward considering the importance of education in national development.
“There’s more to attend to in the education sector. The cost of energy is rising astronomically. There’s a salary and several needs competing for the resources.”
President, Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Orji Kanu Emmanuel, described the allocation of ₦3.52 trillion to education in the 2025 budget as a welcome development, “but it falls short of our expectations.”
“Unfortunately, the allocated amount will not sufficiently address the pressing issues in the sector. The challenges of inadequate infrastructure, shortage of qualified teachers, and outdated curriculum, the increasing case of out-of-school children among others, require more robust funding.”
In areas to spend the allocation, Orji, recommended that Federal Government prioritise spending on infrastructure development by renovating and constructing new classrooms, libraries and laboratories, teacher training, capacity-building programmes for teachers to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Other priorities are on digital education, including investment in digital infrastructure and resources to support online learning; improve access to quality education; special needs education; funds to support the education of children with special needs.
He stressed the need for a government financial support to AFED, and other organisations or associations that adopted the working modular schools model in tracking and bringing the out-of-school children back to classrooms”
“UNESCO recommends that countries allocate at least 15 per cent to 20 or even up to 26 per cent for developing nations of their total budget to education. In this regard, the 2025 allocation falls short of this benchmark.
“While we acknowledge the government’s effort to allocate funds to education, we urge them to reconsider the allocation and prioritise spending in critical areas. We also recommend that government strives to meet the UNESCO benchmark in future budgets to ensure that education receives the necessary funding to drive meaningful development.”
President, Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, observed that successive governments in the country has not given premium priorities to education: “It shows little concern for out-of-school children, no careful and deliberate effort at solving the huge gap of infrastructural deficit in our tertiary institutions, little attention to welfare of educational facilitators at all levels.
“From available information on the proposed draft bill, recurrent expenditure takes about 33 per cent. This speaks to the welfare of educational facilitators across the board. The union is aware that other areas of the economy need adequate attention but no nation can develop above its quality of education.
“It is on this strength that the union is suggesting to government to ensure strict compliance to the budget whenever it’s passed (and we hope it’s done on time) and that going forward, the Federal Government should ensure that its proposal meets up with the UNESCO benchmark, at the very least.
“The amount is a flash in the pan for the myriad of challenges facing the education sector. A greater part of the 3.52 trillion be prioritised on the welfare of facilitators (across board) and learning aids, including teaching and research laboratory equipment.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should ensure that his administration meets the minimum requirements of the UNESCO benchmark, going forward, in order to inject new vigor into the sector and rekindle the hope of a better future for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Immediate past President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Anderson Ezeibe: “This is again abysmal but follows the trend of poor budgetary provisions for the sector over the years. It is also just a fraction of the UNESCO recommendation for developing countries like Nigeria.
“In real terms, the amount is really too small for the education sector in a country of Nigeria’s demographic features. The amount is simply inadequate and cannot address the multi dimensional challenges facing the education sector
“As a nation, we need to be really serious and deliberate about solving the problems in the education sector as there lies the key to sustainable development for the country.”
In Benue State, a civil servant, Jude Kpaakpa, said: “It’s a reflection of the I don’t care attitude of those in government. The education tourism, which has seen the bourgeois of going abroad is the reason our education sector is suffering neglect.
“There is less concerns from the relevant authorities because their children and siblings are all schooling abroad and so they care less about the people.
Kpaakp: “The budget of N3.52 trillion is not enough for the education sector.
“It is not even commiserate with what the government spent on judges recently. It is almost more that what the whole of education sector is getting. Why pay attention to judges than the lecturers/teachers in the education sector.
“Judges were given 300 per cent increase while our lecturers are collecting peanuts and everyday ASUU and the non-academic staff go on strike. We need to take care of lecturers and teachers.”
Mrs. Christina Gbile, said: “First, it is the people that drive the sector. Our people, lecturers and teachers, are in pains over unmet demands even after agreements were signed; others are leaving the country because they see that their counterparts elsewhere are doing better than them.
“We must ensure proper welfare for teachers and lecturers, we must build good infrastructure, and this money should be used to fund people to embark on research and further studies especially on development. This will better our education sector.”
In Kaduna State, former Secretary General, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, said: “The allocation for education in the budget of 2025 is a good priority. This is because education and health improve human capital, which in turn reduces inequality and brings about fair and just competition for livelihood among the citizens.
“The need for education is now very high precisely because of the level of out-of-school children, who can become Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, etc, tomorrow is unacceptably high.Hence the huge allocation.
“However, I do not have the data as to whether such allocation can overcome the challenges facing the sector. But I know that given the needed purposeful leadership and the determination to prevail, the allocation can reduce the challenges facing education substantially.
“All levels such as primary education, secondary and tertiary education are very important. The amount allocated should therefore be applied scientifically in order to reduce ignorance and poverty in the polity.”
Mr. Bernard Sule Akuh, retired banker and management services consultant, said government should “invest in programmes that enhance teachers’ skills and knowledge, with a focus on STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
“Scholarships and grants should take 20 percent, to provide scholarships and grants to students pursuing studies in areas affected by brain drain, such as medicine and healthcare, 10 per cent. Information and Communication Technology (ICT), five per cent and Engineering, percent.
“Digital literacy and technology integration should be allocated 15 per cent to equip schools with digital tools, enhance online learning platforms, and promote digital literacy.
“Curriculum development and review should take five per cent. Focus on developing and reviewing the curriculum to ensure its relevant, inclusive, and aligned with global standards.
“Monitoring and Evaluation should take five per cent. Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track the effectiveness of the education budget and make data-driven decisions for future allocations.”
Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, said: “This is the highest allocation to the education sector in Nigeria’s history. This remarkable commitment, perhaps, underscored the President’s belief that education is the best way to empower the youths.
“With this investment, affordable and quality education at all levels is now within reach, bringing renewed hope to students and families nationwide. Truly, this is a transformative step towards building a brighter future for Nigeria.”