Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have expressed concern over the continued underfunding of education, warning that allocating between six and seven per cent of the national budget to the sector over the past five years could jeopardise the country’s long-term development.
They spoke in separate interviews with LEADERSHIP following the submission of the proposed 2026 federal budget to the National Assembly. The budget, estimated at over ₦58.18 trillion, allocates ₦3.52 trillion to education, representing about six per cent of total expenditure.
The stakeholders noted that the allocation remains far below UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 15–20 per cent, stressing that Nigeria’s current level of spending is insufficient to equip young people with the skills needed to drive economic growth and social progress. A review of previous budgets shows a consistent pattern: in 2022, education received ₦1.18 trillion, or 7.2 per cent of a ₦17.13 trillion budget; in 2023, ₦1.54 trillion, or seven per cent of ₦21.83 trillion; in 2024, ₦2.18 trillion, or about 7.9 per cent of ₦27.5 trillion; and in 2025, ₦3.52 trillion, or 7.3 per cent of a ₦54.99 trillion budget.
Commenting on the trend, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, said the federal government’s allocation of about six per cent confirms a deepening crisis in the education sector. He argued that the figure is far below the 15–26 per cent benchmark required to address decaying infrastructure and other systemic challenges facing Nigerian universities.
Ugoh said the 2026 budget offers no meaningful improvement, stressing that no country can develop beyond the strength of its education system. According to him, when the allocation is spread across the entire education sector, its impact becomes minimal, adding that expectations that the 2026 budget would significantly address long-standing issues have not been met.
He urged the government to recognise education as the foundation of national development, noting that inadequate funding has continued to hinder efforts to improve infrastructure, research and learning outcomes in universities.
Similarly, the spokesperson of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Adeyemi Samson, described the six per cent allocation as inadequate. While acknowledging positive government initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and the reduction in industrial actions across tertiary institutions, he called for increased funding to the sector.
Samson said NANS plans to engage the Ministry of Education, other relevant stakeholders and the Presidency to advocate a review of the allocation. He emphasised that beyond budget figures, proper implementation of funds is critical, particularly to address infrastructure gaps, research grants and subventions that meet international standards.
He added that students would continue to push for realistic funding to ensure adequate laboratories, improved research capacity and better learning environments.
The same concerns were echoed by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), who said the proposed education budget falls short of public expectations. He noted that CISLAC has consistently advocated increased funding in line with UNESCO’s recommendation that at least 20 per cent of national budgets be allocated to education.
Rafsanjani warned that persistent underfunding has resulted in poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, weak learning outcomes and rising youth unemployment. He stressed that quality education is central to human capital development and economic growth, noting that countries that invest more in education tend to grow faster, attract investment and reduce unemployment and conflict.
He added that adequate funding would help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063, close gender gaps, support marginalised groups and promote inclusive education.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement were unsuccessful as of press time, as Hon. Comrade Sunday Asefon did not respond to enquiries sent to him.
