The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, recently made a statement that should stir significant concern and reflection among Nigerians: “The federal government alone cannot finance education in Nigeria.” This declaration, made during an event in Abuja, underscores a critical issue in our country, a nation endowed with vast human and natural resources, yet grappling with a severely underfunded education system.
It is disheartening to note that despite Nigeria’s wealth we continue to struggle with poor educational infrastructure and a reliance on foreign aid to bridge the funding gap. The question that looms large is: for how long will we continue down this unsustainable path? Education must be prioritised above all other sectors of the economy if we are to secure a prosperous future for our nation.
The statistics speak for themselves. In the 2024 budget, only N1.5trn, which is a mere 6.39 per cent of the annual budget, was allocated to education. This is woefully inadequate and falls far below UNESCO’s recommendation of 15 per cent. This shortfall is a national disgrace, especially considering that Nigeria has more than 20 million out-of-school children.
In stark contrast, the national and state assemblies are set to spend over N724bn in 2024, while a staggering N2.8trn will be allocated for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar highway. This amount is almost double the budget for education, with N4bn earmarked per kilometre for road construction. This raises an important question: is road construction more critical than the education of our children? If the education budget were adequately utilised, we could potentially achieve zero out-of-school children by 2027.
Other government expenditures further illustrate this disparity. The proposed construction of a new National Assembly complex is estimated to cost over N37bn. The maintenance of government officials’ residences and other public buildings will consume another significant chunk of the budget. Meanwhile, critical sectors like education continue to be underfunded, leaving millions of Nigerian children without access to quality education.
It is imperative for the president and the Minister of Education to take decisive actions to prioritise education. The reliance on national and foreign donors to finance education must come to an end. Nigeria possesses sufficient resources to fund its education sector independently. By doing so, we can break free from the cycle of dependency on foreign aid and establish a robust, self-sustaining educational system.
In conclusion, the call to action is clear that the Nigerian government must reassess its budgetary allocations and place education at the forefront of its agenda. This shift is not merely an option but a necessity for the future of our nation. Only through a well-funded and prioritised education system can we hope to cultivate the human capital needed to drive Nigeria forward.
Tijjani Mukaddas, Vanderbilt University, USA
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