Big Tent Coalition Critiques Tinubu's Education Policies

The Big Tent Coalition, under the leadership of Professor Pat Utomi, has publicly rejected the defense offered by President Bola Tinubu's administration regarding the state of education in Nigeria. The coalition accused the government of misleading the public by presenting activities as achievements without measurable outcomes.

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, was criticized for deflecting accountability, particularly in response to comments made by Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential election frontrunner, who described Tinubu's 'Renewed Hope' as having resulted in increased hopelessness. The coalition pointed out that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is not a success but rather an indication of failure, as it does not address the systemic issues in education.

Despite claims of reforms, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with UNICEF estimating around 18.3 million. Furthermore, federal education spending remains inadequate, with the 2025 budget allocation being only 7.5% of the national budget, declining to 6.15% in 2026, far below the UNESCO recommended levels.