The presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticized the Nigerian government for its failure to effectively manage the education sector. Commenting on the recent policy change involving the integration of junior and senior secondary schools, Obi described the situation as a tragic admission of administrative incompetence. He emphasized that education remains the core driver of human capital and national economic prosperity.
Obi argued that Nigeria’s path to overcoming economic stagnation relies heavily on investing in education, job creation, and healthcare. Citing the success of various Asian economies, he noted that quality schooling requires significant funding for teacher training, curriculum updates, and improved facilities. The former Anambra state governor pointed to declining performance in examinations, specifically noting that WAEC pass rates for English and Mathematics dropped from 38.32% in 2024 to 32% in 2025.
The government’s decision to merge secondary education levels is intended to combat rising dropout rates. However, Obi remains unconvinced, pointing out that the 2026 budget allocates only 6.17% of total expenditure to education. This figure is a decrease from 7.87% in 2025 and falls significantly below the 15–20% range suggested by UNESCO. Ultimately, he suggested that the core problem is not the school structure, but a fundamental lack of political commitment to funding and quality delivery.
