NEWS
Nigeria’s Broken Education System: A Threat to the Future
By Ngamarju Elizabeth Apagu
Education is often described as the bedrock of national development, yet in Nigeria, that foundation is crumbling at an alarming rate. For decades, successive governments have promised reforms and improvements, but the situation in schools and universities continues to deteriorate.
From underfunded classrooms and frequent strikes to poor infrastructure and declining quality of teaching, the education sector has become one of Nigeria’s greatest crises—one that directly threatens the future of its youth and, by extension, the nation itself. The rot begins at the basic education level, where millions of children are out of school. Nigeria currently has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world, with estimates running into the millions. Factors such as poverty, insecurity, child labor, and early marriage continue to deny children access to education, especially in the northern part of the country. The Universal Basic Education programme, though well-intentioned, has failed to close the gap due to poor implementation, corruption, and lack of political will. Children who should be in classrooms are instead hawking goods on the streets or working to support their families.For those who manage to attend school, the conditions are often appalling. Overcrowded classrooms, broken furniture, and lack of learning materials are common sights in public schools. Teachers, often poorly paid and inadequately trained, struggle to cope with large numbers of students. Libraries and laboratories—essential for meaningful learning—are either absent or non-functional in many schools. In such an environment, education becomes more of a ritual than a transformative process. The result is a generation of students graduating without the necessary skills or knowledge to thrive in a competitive world.The story is not different at the tertiary level. Nigeria’s universities, once respected across Africa, have been crippled by years of neglect. Frequent strikes by academic staff unions disrupt academic calendars, forcing students to spend twice the number of years they should in pursuit of degrees. Poor infrastructure, outdated curricula, and lack of research funding have eroded the quality of higher education. Employers often complain that graduates are not industry-ready, highlighting the disconnect between the classroom and the labor market. Meanwhile, private universities, though better equipped, remain unaffordable for the majority of Nigerians.Another major issue is the rising inequality in access to education. While wealthy families can afford private schools that offer better learning conditions, the poor are left with failing public schools. This inequality perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as children from disadvantaged backgrounds are denied the opportunities that education should provide. It also fuels social tension, as those who feel excluded from quality education become more vulnerable to crime, radicalization, and political manipulation.The consequences of Nigeria’s broken education system are already evident. A workforce lacking critical skills cannot drive innovation, industrial growth, or technological advancement. Young people, disillusioned by years of wasted effort in schools, are turning to migration, seeking better opportunities abroad. Those who remain often struggle with unemployment, underemployment, or involvement in social vices. For a country whose population is overwhelmingly youthful, this represents not just a challenge but a ticking time bomb.Reversing this decline will require urgent and bold steps. First, education must be properly funded, with resources invested in infrastructure, teacher training, and modern learning tools. Second, accountability must be enforced to ensure that funds allocated to the sector are not lost to corruption. Third, curricula at all levels must be reformed to reflect current realities, focusing on technology, innovation, and practical skills. Finally, incentives must be created to keep teachers motivated, while schools in rural and conflict-prone areas must be prioritized for special interventions. Advertise with usNigeria cannot aspire to greatness while its education system remains in disarray. A nation that fails to educate its children fails to secure its future. The call to action is clear: education must no longer be treated as a neglected sector but as a lifeline for national survival and prosperity. If Nigeria does not act now, it risks condemning generations of young people to a cycle of poverty, frustration, and lost potential.Ngamarju Elizabeth Apagu is a 300 Level Student From Mass Communication Department University Of Maiduguri.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed a purported recruitment update circulating on social media, describing it as false and not originating from the Service.
The Service, in a statement, urged members of the public to disregard the misleading information and refrain from sharing unverified content capable of misleading prospective applicants and the general public.
The NCS advised Nigerians to rely solely on information published through its official communication channels for accurate updates on recruitment exercises and other activities of the Service.
It reiterated that its verified social media platforms remain the authentic sources of information and urged the public to always verify recruitment-related announcements before acting on them or sharing them with others.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
Nigeria’s broad money supply (M3) increased for the second consecutive month, rising to N133.25 trillion in June 2026 from N129.21 trillion recorded in May, according to the latest Money and Credit Statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The latest data showed that money supply expanded by N4.
04 trillion month-on-month, despite the apex bank’s decision to maintain its benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 26.5 per cent.The increase reflects the continued growth in liquidity within the economy, even as the CBN maintains a cautious approach aimed at controlling inflation, managing liquidity and sustaining macroeconomic stability.
Broad money supply, also known as M3, includes currency in circulation outside banks, demand deposits, savings and time deposits, as well as foreign currency deposits.
CBN figures also revealed a significant year-on-year growth in money supply, with M3 rising from N117.25 trillion in June 2025 to N133.25 trillion in June 2026.
This represents an increase of approximately N16 trillion, or 13.59 per cent, over the one-year period.
A breakdown of the statistics showed that M2, which comprises narrow money (M1), quasi-money, demand deposits and currency outside banks, rose to N133.24 trillion in June from N129.20 trillion in May.
The expansion in liquidity was largely driven by growth in quasi-money and domestic assets during the period under review.
Quasi-money increased from N84.58 trillion in May to N88.54 trillion in June, while demand deposits recorded a marginal rise from N39.43 trillion to N39.78 trillion.
However, currency held outside the banking system declined from N5.19 trillion in May to N4.92 trillion in June, indicating that more funds remained within the formal banking system.
Further analysis of the CBN data showed that net domestic assets grew by 4.37 per cent, rising from N102.26 trillion in May to N106.73 trillion in June.
Net foreign assets recorded a slight decline of 1.56 per cent, falling from N26.95 trillion to N26.53 trillion during the same period.
Overall, broad money supply expanded by 3.11 per cent month-on-month, highlighting sustained liquidity growth despite the CBN’s restrictive monetary policy measures.
The money supply figures came days after the apex bank retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent at the conclusion of its 305th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
The committee also kept all other monetary policy parameters unchanged, signalling its commitment to sustaining the disinflation process while protecting macroeconomic stability.
Analysts noted that the continued rise in money supply presents a challenge for the CBN as it seeks to strike a balance between supporting economic activities, managing liquidity and preventing renewed inflationary pressures.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Senate Committee on Sports Development has criticised the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for failure to honour invitations to appear before it, warning that continued disregard for legislative oversight could attract disciplinary action.
The committee, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), expressed its displeasure during a meeting on Wednesday, describing the absence of officials from both organisations as unacceptable and an impediment to the committee’s constitutional oversight functions.
Ningi revealed that separate invitation letters were sent to the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Commission’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, to remove any ambiguity over who should represent the agency before the committee.
He dismissed the explanations submitted by the Commission for its absence, insisting that they were unsatisfactory.
“The committee will not tolerate attempts to frustrate its constitutional oversight responsibilities,” Ningi said.
He warned that the repeated absence of senior officials was preventing the committee from effectively carrying out its legislative mandate, adding that such conduct could warrant disciplinary action by the Senate.
“It is becoming a practice that requires Senate disciplinary action against these agents of government,” he said, stressing that accountability must be upheld.
Committee members unanimously backed the chairman’s position, insisting that the leadership of both the NSC and the NFF must appear before the panel to explain issues relating to their finances and operations.
As part of its ongoing investigation, the committee directed the NSC to submit evidence of its approved budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, along with details of budget releases for the same period.
It also requested records of funds released to all sporting federations, including basketball, volleyball, boxing, judo and hockey, as well as evidence of statutory federal government subventions to the federations.
To verify the records, Sen. Ningi instructed the Clerk of the Committee to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation requesting comprehensive details of all funds released to the NSC from 2023 to date.
The committee further directed the NFF to provide detailed appropriations and releases for Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as well as comprehensive expenditure records for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ningi said a new date would be communicated to the NSC and NFF for their appearance before the committee.
Addressing National Assembly correspondents after the meeting, the senator maintained that the attitude of both organisations was unacceptable.
He reiterated that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers the National Assembly to exercise oversight over all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, including the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation.
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