Education stakeholders have expressed concern over Nigeria’s 2026 national budget allocation to the sector, following confirmation that only 4.7 per cent of the total approved budget was allocated to the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) Edutimes Africa gathered.
Data released by Invictus Africa, citing figures from the Budget Office of the Federation, shows that of the ₦51.59 trillion 2026 national budget, ₦2.40 trillion was allocated to the FMoE — representing just 4.7 per cent of total public spending.
A breakdown of the education allocation further reveals that 70 per cent (₦1.68 trillion) is earmarked for personnel costs, 24.7 per cent (₦591.58 billion) for capital expenditure, and 5.3 per cent (₦127.79 billion) for overheads. Analysts say this structure leaves limited fiscal space for transformative investments in infrastructure, innovation, and system-wide reform.
The allocation also falls significantly short of UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 15–20 per cent of national budgets for education. Over the past decade, Nigeria’s highest allocation to education was 10.79 per cent in 2015 — still below global standards.
Education advocates who spoke with Edutimes Africa correspondent in Lagos warn that continued underfunding could have far-reaching consequences. Persistent low investment is linked to inadequate school infrastructure, shortages of teaching and learning materials, and limited teacher development opportunities. It also exacerbates gender disparities, particularly in underserved and rural communities where girls are disproportionately affected by poor access to quality education.
With millions of children still out of school and learning poverty rates remaining high, experts argue that increased and better-targeted funding is critical to improving outcomes.
Stakeholders are therefore calling on the Federal Government to prioritise education financing in line with international benchmarks, noting that sustainable national development is closely tied to equitable and quality education.
Developing story!
Data Source: Invictus Africa (Data from the Budget Office of the Federation)
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