The Federal Government and 22 of Nigeria’s 36 states have collectively allocated N6.131 trillion to education in their proposed 2025 budgets. This figure represents a mere 9.27% of the total N66.111 trillion budget, falling significantly short of recommended benchmarks set by Nigeria’s National Policy on Education, the World Bank, and UNESCO.
Global and National Standards for Education Funding
UNESCO advises that governments allocate at least 26% of their budgets to education, while the World Bank recommends a range of 20–30%. Nigeria’s own National Policy on Education mirrors UNESCO’s 26% benchmark. However, the 2025 allocations are far below these standards, highlighting a concerning trend in underfunding education.
STATE-BY-STATE BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS:
So far, 33 out of 36 states have announced their budgets, with Imo, Kwara, and Rivers yet to present theirs. Of the 33 states, only 22 have disclosed specific allocations for education, based on publicly available information from their websites or presentations at their Houses of Assembly.
Among the 22 states:
– Four states—Enugu (32.99%), Kano (31%), Jigawa (26.4%), and Kaduna (26.14%)—met or exceeded the UNESCO and Nigeria’s 26% benchmark.
– Four others—Abia (20%), Nasarawa (20.43%), Oyo (21.4%), and Sokoto (25%)—fell within the World Bank’s 20% minimum standard.
However, the Federal Government allocated just 7.08% of its 2025 budget to education, joining states like Lagos (6.93%), Delta (6.89%), and Bayelsa (6.83%) at the bottom of the list.
A CALL FOR PRIORITIZING EDUCATION:
The current allocations underscore a critical gap between policy and practice, raising questions about Nigeria’s commitment to advancing education. With education forming the backbone of national development, stakeholders must advocate for increased investments to meet international and national benchmarks, ensuring the country’s future competitiveness and prosperity.
