Nigerian Govt managing education poorly – Peter Obi on proposed 12-year policy

Reacting, Obi said, “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 to improve educational outcomes. This is evident in recent examination results.

“In 2024, the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, reported that only 38.32% of candidates passed English and Mathematics in the WASSCE. In 2025, only 32% passed the computer-based WASSCE. This poor performance has been consistent across major examinations over the past two years.

“Unfortunately, the government continues to neglect the sector. In the 2026 budget, education received only N3.52 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.

“The Minister’s admission reflects a broader failure of public leadership. The issue is not the JSS/SSS policy itself, but the lack of commitment to properly fund, manage, and deliver quality education,” he wrote.