Nigeria's education sector has faced persistent underfunding, with budget allocations often failing to materialize, resulting in declining student performance and growing dissatisfaction among teachers. Despite this, some Nigerian states have made education a focal point, increasing their education budgets to revitalize the sector.

The proposed 2025 budget allocates N6.13 trillion to education, making up 9.27% of the total N66.11 trillion national budget. However, this falls significantly short of UNESCO's 26% benchmark, the World Bank's 20-30% recommendation, and Nigeria's National Policy on Education, which also calls for at least 26% allocation to education.

An analysis of the proposed 2025 budget shows that the defense and security sector will get the largest allocation at 9.87%, followed by infrastructure (8.16%), education (7.08%), and health (4.99%). Compared to previous years, funding for defense, education, and health has declined.

Some Nigerian states have, however, shown varying levels of commitment to education funding. Top performers include Enugu (32.99%), Kano (31%), Jigawa (26.4%), and Kaduna (26.14%), which have met or exceeded UNESCO's recommendation. In contrast, states meeting the World Bank's minimum include Abia (20%), Nasarawa (20.43%), Oyo (21.4%), and Sokoto (25%), which have reached the 20% benchmark.

Unfortunately, states with low education allocation are Lagos (6.93%), Delta (6.89%), and Bayelsa (6.83%), which have allocated the least to education, falling below the Federal Government's 7.08% allocation. According to The Cable Index, the top states with the highest education budget allocations in Nigeria are Enugu, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, and Rivers.

The decline in education budget allocation highlights ongoing challenges in prioritizing education funding at both federal and state levels. This neglect has resulted in years of decay in the system, with parents shouldering the financial burden of essential infrastructure development. As the Nigerian government continues to face criticism for its neglect of the education sector, it remains to be seen whether efforts by some states to increase their education budgets will be enough to revitalize the sector.

The implications of this decline in education budget allocation are far-reaching, with potential long-term effects on the country's human capital development and economic growth. As Nigeria strives to secure its future, it is essential that the government prioritizes education funding, meeting the recommended benchmarks to ensure a well-educated and skilled workforce.