Ashiru Needs Lesson In Education Funding—Commissioner

Kaduna State Government has criticized Alhaji Isa Mohammed Ashiru, a candidate for governor from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), after he accused Governor Uba Sani of not prioritizing education. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, stated that while Ashiru is free to criticize the government, he needs to base his arguments on accurate information.

Maiyaki pointed out that UNESCO recommends education funding between 15 to 20 percent of a country's budget, while the Education 2030 Framework for Action suggests at least four to six percent of Gross Domestic Product or 25 percent of total public expenditure. He further mentioned that Kaduna State has allocated 25 percent of its budget to education for three consecutive years, totaling approximately N246.5 billion in 2026.

The state's investment in education has led to positive outcomes, such as reducing the number of out-of-school children from over 550,000 to 187,719 in three years. The National Board for Technical Education has recognized three Skills Development and Vocational Training Centres under Governor Sani's administration as the best-equipped and structured in Nigeria.

The state has also made financial commitments to the Kaduna State University (KASU), including staff welfare, salaries, and infrastructure development, which have resulted in full accreditation of seven professional programs and the establishment of a Digital Learning Centre.