Amid WASSCE Failures, Lagos Education Records 2.7% Budget Performance in Q1 2025
In the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, Lagos State recorded a dismal 2.7 percent budget performance in the education sector. Out of the approved 2025 education budget of N23.16bn, only N631.86m was released within the first three months of the year.
This leaves a balance of N22.53bn, highlighting a significant gap between the allocated funds and actual disbursement.
A closer look reveals severe underfunding across key education agencies. The Ministry of Basic Education received only N19.04m out of its N120m allocation. The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) received just N205,000—representing a mere 0.8 percent performance against its N24.57m allocation. The Library Board received no funding at all, despite an approved budget of N500,000.
The Lagos State Examinations Board was allocated N1.5bn but received only N365.17m, amounting to a 24.3 percent performance rate. The Teaching Service Commission received N1m out of its N3.5m allocation, representing a 28.6 percent budget execution.
The Technical and Vocational Education Board got N1.97m—just 9.9 percent of its budget. The School Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools received only N560,000 out of N20m, marking a 2.8 percent execution.
The Office of Education Quality Assurance received N243.91m out of a N1.04bn budget, reflecting a 23.5 percent performance rate.
In contrast, several major institutions—including the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Lagos State University (LASU), College of Health Technology, Lagos State University of Education, Lagos State Scholarship Board, and the Agency for Mass Education—recorded zero budget performance in the first quarter.
This is according to the Q1 Budget Performance Report released by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, obtained by THE WHISTLER.
The poor funding comes amid growing concerns about the quality of education in Lagos, following students’ dismal performance in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
WASSCE Results Reveal Deepening Crisis
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, revealed in April that 31,596 out of the 58,188 students sponsored by the Lagos State Government to write the 2024 WASSCE failed the exam.
This amounts to a 54.3 percent failure rate—raising questions about the effectiveness of state-sponsored interventions and the overall quality of public education in Lagos.
According to data from the National Mass Education Programme Initiative (NMPI) 2022 and other sectoral reports, Lagos accounts for 6.4 percent of Nigeria’s out-of-school children—adding to the concern over poor education outcomes.
‘This Is Unacceptable’ – Rhodes-Vivour Blasts APC
The 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, described the failure rate as unacceptable. He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of eroding the value of education and prioritizing politics over future development.
Rhodes-Vivour argued that under the APC, the state had witnessed a collapse in educational standards and alleged that the party had destroyed incentives for human capital development by glamorizing thuggery and rewarding corruption.
“The quality of education in Lagos has collapsed and this is unacceptable. This degeneration has been accelerated by a party that cares more about politicking than investing in the next generation,” Rhodes-Vivour wrote on X.
“The APC has destroyed every incentive for human capital development by glamorizing thuggery, rascality and rewarded corruption.
“God willing, we will reverse this rot and decay, and restore the pride of education and the dignity of Labour,” he added.
Raise Education Budget To 14% – Doherty Tells Sanwo-Olu
A former governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Funso Doherty, also weighed in, calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act urgently in light of the alarming WASSCE failure rate.
In a letter dated April 26, 2025, addressed to the governor, Doherty described the figures as a “crisis” and demanded immediate and sustained efforts to avoid long-term developmental setbacks.
He urged the government to double its current budgetary allocation to education from 7 per cent to at least 14 per cent within the next two to three years.
Doherty referred to the results as a harsh indictment of governance in Lagos over the past 26 years, pointing to a systemic neglect of public education.
“I write in reference to the submission made by the Hon. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education at this week’s Ministerial Press Briefing, in which he reportedly revealed that over 31,000 out of 58,188 students in Lagos State public schools who registered and sat for the 2024 WASSCE failed the examination, an alarming 54.3 per cent failure rate,” Doherty wrote.
“This figure is deeply troubling. In a state with a predominantly youthful population, it serves as a harsh indictment of governance outcomes over the past 26 years, spanning the current and previous administrations since 1999. It reflects a disconnect between the priorities of government and the pressing needs of the less-privileged majority.”
Doherty, who ran for office under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2023 before joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the state government for celebrating revenue growth while social indicators—especially education—have remained poor.
In the first quarter of 2025, Lagos generated N582.45bn in total revenue. This represents 79 per cent of the state’s quarterly revenue target of N728.90bn and 20 per cent of the annual revenue projection of N2.92tn (excluding net grants and the opening balance).
Doherty recommended prioritizing foundational literacy and numeracy, expanding technical education, improving teacher quality, and implementing standardized testing.
He also urged the provision of free, safe transportation for students in uniform and called for a state-led strategy to reduce the number of out-of-school children.
“Let us be clear: though long in the making, this is an emergency. If we fail to address it, the long-term social and developmental consequences will be severe and far-reaching. We must act now,” Doherty warned.
N1.577bn Paid For WASSCE Fees In 2024
The Lagos State Government paid N1.577bn to cover WASSCE fees for 58,188 students in 2024.
According to Alli-Balogun, the state conducted a biometric and image registration exercise to ensure accountability and accurate record-keeping. This led to the verification of 56,134 eligible beneficiaries.
“In order to prevent wastage and ensure accountability in the sponsorship process, biometric capture and image registration exercise was conducted for all Senior Secondary III students to accurately determine the number of students eligible for sponsorship by the Lagos State Government for the year 2025 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun said.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona-fide beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s sponsorship for the Examination.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1.577 billion only was paid by the State Government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE.”
Strategic Interventions To Boost Learning
The commissioner also outlined several ongoing education initiatives aimed at improving student outcomes. One of them is the Innovate Eko STEAM Programme, launched on November 8, 2024, to align with National STEAM Day.
The programme encourages practical learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and seeks to prepare students for an innovation-driven economy.
In addition, the Eko Learners’ Support Programme was introduced on January 14 to assist students preparing for both WASSCE and NECO.
According to Alli-Balogun, this initiative underscores the government’s commitment to educational reform and student empowerment.
He emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of stakeholders to provide students with the necessary tools and support to thrive—regardless of background or socioeconomic status.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the Ministry’s commitment at advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State.The programme was an investment in the future of our children, our State, and our Nation.
“While we recognize education as the bedrock of development, it becomes our collective responsibility to provide our students with the necessary tools, resources and support to succeed. It is a supportive eco-system that fosters academic achievement, creativity, critical thinking and believes that every student deserves the opportunity to attain their full potential, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.
“The initiative is an additional support by the Ministry through our engagement with private sectors within the education ecosystem, to ensure that Lagos State candidates record impressive results in external examinations,” Alli-Balogun stated.
As part of the initiative, 320 specially designed lessons across 10 core subjects—English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English, and Yoruba—are being broadcast on Lagos Television and digital platforms to supplement classroom learning and enhance examination preparedness.
Amid WASSCE Failures, Lagos Education Records 2.7% Budget Performance in Q1 2025 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
