NELFUND, EDUCATION GETS ₦3.52TRN ALLOCATION IN TINUBU 2026 BUDGET PRESENTATION
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill of ₦58.18 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly, placing education at its core with a ₦3.52 trillion allocation to build human capital and drive productivity.
The budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” explicitly links educated citizens to national progress, stating “without educated and healthy citizens, productivity will not rise.”Education as Budget BackboneIn paragraph 22, education receives ₦3.52 trillion, ranking third after defence (₦5.41trn) and infrastructure (₦3.56trn), reflecting interlinked priorities for renewal.
The “Human Capital Development: Education and Health” section (paragraphs 30-33) declares: “No nation can grow beyond the quality of its people.” It highlights expanding higher education access through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, supporting over 788,000 students in partnership with 229 tertiary institutions nationwide.
This focus aligns with objective 4: “Strengthen human capital development while protecting the vulnerable,” positioning education as essential for job-rich growth and poverty reduction.Broader ContextTotal revenue targets ₦34.33trn against ₦26.08trn capital expenditure, with a ₦23.85trn deficit at 4.28% of GDP. President Tinubu vows stricter execution, digitised revenues, and procurement reforms to ensure delivery.
Lawmakers received the bill amid calls for unity, with education’s prominence signaling commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda for inclusive prosperity.
Be the first to comment