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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised the Nigerian government over the poor management of Nigeria’s education sector.
In a post on X on Friday, Obi argued that the Education Minister’s recent admission that the separation of junior and senior secondary schools had failed reflects a broader leadership failure.
He said the government’s acknowledgement that the policy had not improved learning outcomes was “tragic,” warning that continued neglect of education would undermine Nigeria’s economic growth and future development.
“The Federal Government has finally admitted to its poor management of the education sector,” Obi wrote.
Citing examination statistics, Obi said that only 38.32 per cent of candidates passed both English Language and Mathematics in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, while only 32 per cent passed the computer-based WASSCE in 2025.
“This poor performance has been consistent across major examinations over the past two years,” he added.
Obi argued that education remains the foundation of human capital development and is indispensable for economic progress.
The former Anambra governor also criticised the level of government spending on education, noting that the sector received ₦3.52 trillion in the 2026 budget, representing 6.17 per cent of total expenditure.
“Unfortunately, the government continues to neglect the sector. In the 2026 budget, education received only ₦3.52 trillion, just 6.17% of total expenditure, down from 7.87% in 2025, and well below UNESCO’s recommended 15–20%.
“This low allocation indicates a failure to recognise education as a driver of sustained economic growth.”
Obi further cited claims by education advocate Alex Onyia that Nigeria was unable to sponsor students for international STEM and Mathematics Olympiads due to inadequate funding.
According to Obi, the minister’s comments point to deeper governance challenges rather than flaws in the education policy itself, urging the government to prioritise investment in education, healthcare and job creation.
“As I have always said, failing to do the right things is equivalent to abusing society, and the society we abuse today will take its revenge on us and our children tomorrow,” he added.
Education Crisis: Calls for Fundamental Change, Not Just Policy
The Federal Government has finally admitted to its poor management of the education sector. Recently, the Minister of Education acknowledged that the policy separating junior and senior secondary schools has failed…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) July 3, 2026
