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Nigeria’s Education Sector Hitting Brickwall Under Tinubu – Experts

ByKazeem Badmus

PublishedSeptember 8, 2025

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Stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector have lamented the increasing decay of the sector under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that it has not received the deserved attention in the last two years.

In separate interviews with OSUN DEFENDER over the weekend, the stakeholders including teachers, parents, school owners, students, among others decried the situation, stressing that education had witnessed more decline under the present administration than of his predecessors.

They also lamented the poor welfare for teachers, delay in release of subvention, and continuous decline in several processes that had contributed positively to the growth of education.

A 2024 report by the United Nations Education Children’s Fund (UNICEF) puts the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria to more than 10.5 million, under President Tinubu’s administration.

The alarming rate, according to the global body, also accounts for 15% of the world’s population of out-of-school children.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some of the factors responsible for the huge number include but are not limited to early/child marriage, economic barriers, conflict, socio-cultural norms, and lack of inclusive policies/practices in schools.

“1 in 3 children are OOS in Nigeria: 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school (JSS) level 1. 12.4 million children never attended school and 5.9 million left school early. Nigeria’s OOS population accounts for 15% of the global total,” according to data on the UNICEF website.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, an educationist, Prof. Taiwo Adisa, adduced the deteriorating rate of education in the country is due to the lack of conscious government direction to improve the situation.

Adisa, who berated the recent glitches in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), stressed that Nigerians are tired of such developments, capable of further mauling the system.

“It is sad to say that Nigeria is currently in a comatose. It is a sad trend that all of the indicators to measure the growth of education in the country is on a decline. When we ask questions, they will say they are giving loans.

“Loans that are not pivotal or making any impact or effect on the schools. It is on record that it is under this administration that students are writing WAEC at night. Many students failed JAMB this year because of glitches. Examination malpractice is on the increase. So, where have they done well?”

Corroborating him, a retired headmistress, Mrs Busola Olowookere affirmed that the present administration at the federal level is not doing enough to improve the lot of the country’s education system.

Olowookere pointed out that while the Tinubu-led government is providing more allocation for state and local governments, which manage the primary and post-primary levels, its weak monitoring has continued to cripple the system.

“The current federal government is only giving states and local governments monies but has failed to monitor and that’s why education is there. The system is lacking in direction, monitoring, supervision, management and even; policy somersaults.

“Education has moved beyond where we are in this country. Things are bad from every level you look at it. From dilapidated structures to ineffective welfare packages to the teachers and lecturers.

“There is a lot of work to be done and I hope the government can swing to action as soon as possible. If things continue this way, our education system may be the worst in Sub-Saharan Africa,” the ex-headmistress noted.

Defending his administration, President Tinubu said his administration allocated a record ₦3.52 trillion to education in the 2025 federal budget — a 61.47% increase from the previous year — to improve the quality of education.

The President stated that through targeted policies and strategic investments in education, his administration has initiated transformative changes aimed at inclusivity, skill acquisition, data-driven planning, and quality engagement.

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.