The Honourable Minister of Education, CON Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday led the defence of the Federal Ministry of Education’s ₦2.4 trillion 2026 Budget Proposal before the Joint Committees on Education of the National Assembly, highlighting the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, measurable outcomes, and the completion of ongoing projects nationwide.
Accompanying him were the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad; the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel O. Eniitan; and Directors of the Ministry.
Presenting the estimates during the National Assembly’s review of the 2025 budget implementation and consideration of the 2026 projections, Dr. Alausa described rollover provisions as a clear commitment that no critical education project would be abandoned due to fiscal transitions.
“As we transit from one budget cycle to another, rollover represents our collective determination that projects critical to national education development must be completed. Appropriation must translate into execution, and execution must result in visible impact,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged capital implementation challenges in 2025 but noted progress in personnel and overhead expenditure. He emphasised that the 2026 framework targets improvements in infrastructure, research capacity, teacher development, digital learning access, and safe school environments.
A key focus was the shortage of over 3,500 teachers in Federal Unity Colleges, particularly in science, mathematics, and technical subjects. Dr. Alausa assured lawmakers that recruitment, structured training, and retention strategies have been prioritised to strengthen learning outcomes.
The 2026 budget proposal allocates ₦966.9 billion to universities, ₦382.0 billion to polytechnics and colleges of education, ₦633.3 billion to education parastatals, and ₦257.9 billion for the Ministry’s headquarters operations.
Unity Colleges are projected to receive ₦155 billion, while ₦10.3 billion is earmarked for international obligations, including UNESCO commitments. Expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) aims to equip over five million youths with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
Dr. Alausa also highlighted the Ministry’s six-point education renewal agenda, which focuses on STEMM advancement, reducing out-of-school children, girl-child education, digitalisation, data-driven planning, and community engagement.
He noted that the 2026–2028 ministerial deliverables align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Education Sector Roadmap.
In his remarks, the Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Muntari Dandutse, emphasised the National Assembly’s constitutional duty to rigorously examine budget implementation.
He called for detailed clarification on rollover projects to ensure appropriated funds translate into measurable progress.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Abubakar Hassan Fulata, and Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Babagida Hussain, requested detailed nominal rolls and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) submissions from the Ministry and its agencies, stressing strict compliance with constitutional provisions.
Responding, Dr. Alausa assured lawmakers that comprehensive documentation, including nominal rolls and IGR expenditure plans, would be submitted promptly to support legislative scrutiny.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to accountability, efficiency, and timely project completion.
Following deliberations, the Joint Committees formally received and adopted the Ministry’s submission for further legislative consideration.
The Minister concluded by expressing readiness to provide additional clarifications and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to collaborative engagement with lawmakers to ensure successful implementation of the 2026 education sector budget.
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