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By racy Moses
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has sounded the alarm over escalating security challenges in schools nationwide, calling on the National Assembly to boost allocations to the education sector in the 2026 fiscal year to address the menace.
Alausa made the appeal during his defence of the Federal Ministry of Education’s 2026 budget proposal before the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Education at the National Assembly.
He stressed that insufficient funding would continue to leave schools exposed to insecurity and worsening infrastructure.
He noted that several schools, especially those in regions affected by kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities, lack essential safety facilities, including perimeter fencing, surveillance technology and stable electricity supply to power security systems. “Our children deserve to learn in safe environments. Security cannot be compromised,” the minister stated.
He emphasised that enhanced funding would enable the installation of surveillance cameras, construction of perimeter fences, improved lighting and other safety mechanisms to protect students and staff.
Beyond security concerns, Alausa disclosed that Federal Unity Colleges are grappling with a shortfall of over 3,500 teachers.
He warned that the deficit is hampering the effective teaching of critical subjects such as mathematics, sciences and technical courses, thereby weakening efforts to raise globally competitive graduates.
According to him, urgent recruitment, training and retention strategies are required to address the shortage of qualified educators across the country.
The minister also drew attention to significant infrastructural gaps, citing overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated hostels, poorly equipped laboratories and inadequate library facilities.
He said outdated laboratory tools and insufficient learning spaces are undermining students’ practical exposure and research development.
On digital education, Alausa lamented the limited integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools.
He advocated increased investment in computers, internet access and digital learning platforms to modernise Nigeria’s education system in line with international standards.
He further proposed the establishment of a protected scholarship fund to guarantee prompt payment to beneficiaries, particularly those studying overseas.
To reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, he suggested that foreign scholarship obligations be settled in local currencies or US dollars.
He observed that many scholarship recipients are brilliant but financially disadvantaged students whose academic progress is threatened by funding delays.
Alausa explained that the 2026 education budget proposal is anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and focuses on tackling out-of-school children, improving teacher capacity, strengthening school security and revitalising tertiary institutions to produce a skilled workforce.
Describing the budget as a long-term national investment, he urged lawmakers to work towards meeting the UNESCO recommendation of allocating at least 20 per cent of the national budget to education.
“Education funding is not a cost but an investment in our country’s future. Without adequate support, schools cannot ensure safety or deliver quality learning,” he maintained.
He therefore appealed to the National Assembly to give priority attention to the sector and approve increased funding to confront the pressing security, staffing and infrastructure deficits facing schools across the country.