2022 budget: Reaction trails FG’s reduction 1.29trn to 1.23trn fiscal allocation

…Budget not enough to solve moribund state Nigerian education — Ibidapo

By Racheal Oyelola

Reactions have trailed the government decision to slim down the money budget for education in 2022 fiscal year.

National Assembly reduction of education budget of N1.29 trillion  proposed to N1.23 trillion. N1.29 by Buhari represents 7.9% of the budget and the lowest in 6 years.

Meanwhile an expert, who spoke with Nigerian NewsDirect said the money was not enough to solve the moribund state of Nigerian education system.

An education expert and programme officer of a non-governmental organisation, Human Development Initiative,Johnson Ibidapo has said that the N1.29 trillion representing 7.9 percent, for education in the 2022 budget, would not be enough.

He revealed that, “Actually, the budget shows an improvement when compared with past budgets as like in previous years, out of N13.08 trillion budget for 2021, only N742.5 billion or 5.68% was allocated to education sector.

“With the further breakdown of the budget,it shows that from the initial N1.29 trillion for the education sector, N108.1 billion is for the Universal Basic Education (UBEC), N1.2 billion for rehabilitation of classrooms/hostels, N392 million as takeoff grants for six federal science and technical colleges; N4.5 billion as scholarship allowances; while N2 billion is for payment to 5,000 Federal Teachers Scheme Allowance, yet it can’t be enough.”

He further stated that though criticisms had been trailed the 15-20 percent of UNESCO recommendations for education sector, saying that any country that serious about nation growth should be able to at least devote 10 percent of her annual budget to education sectors for the nation building.