Peter Obi Blames WAEC Mass Failure on Poor Education Funding

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has attributed the mass failure of students in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams to inadequate funding of the education sector.

In a statement issued on Monday, Obi highlighted that the 2024 WAEC results showed a 7.69 percent decrease in Nigerian students’ performance, underscoring the lack of investment in critical development areas. He emphasized that this decline in educational performance, along with other critical sectors, requires urgent attention and action.

Obi pointed out that despite Nigeria’s claimed literacy rate of over 50%, the country is ranked 187th globally in literacy, reflecting a significant lack of commitment to education. He noted that the total capital expenditure for the entire education sector, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), was allocated N330.3 billion, which he described as insufficient for a country with approximately 81,520 primary schools and 23,550 secondary schools.