Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the state of Nigeria’s education sector, saying the Federal Government’s decision to phase out the junior and senior secondary school separation policy reflects years of weak leadership rather than a failure of the policy itself.
The criticism followed the Federal Government’s acknowledgement that the policy had failed to improve learning outcomes across the country.
The admission has sparked fresh conversations about the quality of education and declining examination performance in Nigeria.
The Brandspur Politics reports that Obi linked the policy’s failure to poor funding and ineffective leadership, arguing that the country’s education system requires urgent reforms rather than policy reversals alone.
Peter Obi blames poor leadership for education challenges
Reacting in a post on X, Obi said, “The Federal Government has finally admitted to its poor management of the education sector. Recently, the Minister of Education acknowledged that the policy separating junior and senior secondary schools has failed to improve educational outcomes. This is evident in recent examination results.”
He also pointed to examination statistics, noting that only 38.32 per cent of candidates passed both English Language and Mathematics in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, while about 32 per cent passed the computer-based WASSCE in 2025.
According to Obi, the figures highlight a deeper crisis that threatens Nigeria’s long-term development.
Obi calls for greater investment in education
Continuing his remarks, Obi said, “This admission is tragic because education is the most vital contributor to human capital development, which forms the foundation for growth and economic development of any society. We cannot overcome economic stagnation without prioritising education, healthcare and job creation to lift millions of unemployed youths out of poverty.”
His comments have generated discussions online, with many Nigerians debating the Federal Government’s education policies and the need for sustained investment in schools, teachers and learning infrastructure as concerns over declining academic performance continue.
Check the post below…
