Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olufemi Gbajabiamila, has faulted the N3.52 trillion allocated to the education sector in the 2025 budget presented by President Bola Tinubu, saying the amount falls far short of expectations.
Gbajabiamila made this known while speaking as a guest lecturer at the maiden annual lecture of Osun State University, held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Main Campus, Osogbo, on Tuesday.
He dwelt on the theme, “Interrogating Funding of Education: Global versus Nigerian Perspectives.”
Acknowledging that education is a right and not a privilege of all Nigerians, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives argued that the Federal and State Governments cannot fund qualitative public university education if the system continues to run in its present form.
He said when compared to other countries of the world, the current budgetary allocation to the education sector in Nigeria falls far below what the nation needs to guarantee a quality education.
Admitting that funding tertiary institutions has remained one of the pressing challenges of the present Nigerian governments, Gbajabiamila stated that the reality on the ground is that the Federal Government and States cannot afford to fund qualitative education as required in this modern stage.
