Peter Obi criticises Federal Government over education crisis, blaming weak leadership and poor funding after policy failure in Nigeria’s school system
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi, national figure of the National Democratic Party, on Friday criticised the Federal Government over what he described as a deepening education crisis, arguing that weak leadership and poor funding rather than structural policy flaws are responsible for Nigeria’s declining academic outcomes.
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Obi made the remarks in a post on X, reacting to the Federal Government’s decision to phase out the policy separating junior and senior secondary schools after officials admitted it had failed to improve learning outcomes across the country.
According to Obi, the development represents an admission of long-standing mismanagement within the education sector, which he said continues to struggle despite repeated reforms.
“The Federal Government has finally admitted to its poor management of the education sector,” Obi wrote, citing examination results that he said reflected the severity of the crisis.
He referenced data showing that only 38.32 per cent of candidates passed both English Language and Mathematics in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, while about 32 per cent achieved similar results in the 2025 computer-based WASSCE.
Obi argued that these figures point to a broader systemic failure that goes beyond policy structure, insisting that education remains critically underfunded and undervalued in national planning.
He highlighted that Nigeria allocated ₦3.52 trillion, representing about 6.17 per cent of the 2026 national budget, which remains significantly below UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 15 to 20 per cent for education investment.
“This low allocation indicates a failure to recognise education as a driver of sustained economic growth,” he stated.
The former Anambra State governor also raised concerns over what he described as missed opportunities for Nigerian students on the global stage, alleging that insufficient funding has prevented participation in international academic competitions.
He further pointed to his administration’s record in Anambra State, where he said investments in infrastructure and digital learning tools helped improve educational outcomes.
“In Anambra State, we proved that committed leadership can transform educational outcomes,” Obi said, citing the provision of laptops, internet connectivity and learning aids across secondary schools.
Obi added that the state’s large-scale procurement of laptops for students was recognised by HP Africa as one of the most extensive education technology investments by a subnational government in Africa.
He urged the Federal Government to prioritise education, healthcare and job creation, warning that continued neglect of these sectors would deepen economic hardship and social instability.
His comments follow the announcement by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, that the Federal Government would discontinue the junior and senior secondary school separation policy after data reportedly showed that over 20 million pupils dropped out before reaching senior secondary level.
The policy change has sparked renewed debate over Nigeria’s education system, with stakeholders divided over whether structural reforms or governance failures are the primary challenge facing the sector.
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Obi’s intervention adds to growing political discourse on education reform ahead of the 2027 elections, where policy performance is expected to remain a key campaign issue.
