President Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has pledged to increase the nation’s budget for education sector by 50 percent over the next two years.
Recall that out of N13.08 trillion budgeted for 2021, the Federal Government allocated the sum of N742.5 billion to education which is just 5.6 per cent, of which the National Assembly approved N13.588trillion, the lowest allocation since 2011.
Buhari, who is in London, United Kingdom with other leaders signed a form of commitment on Wednesday at the meeting titled ‘Heads of State Call To Action On Education Financing Ahead Of The Global Education Summit’.
“We commit to progressively increase our annual domestic education expenditure by 50% over the next two years and up to 100% by 2025 beyond the 20% global benchmark”, Buhari said.
The ongoing event is being co-hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta.
How the President, who last December signed the budget for the lowest allocation to education in the last decade intends to go about fulfilling this promise is yet known.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommends that 15 to 20 percent of annual budget should be allocated to education in developing countries.
