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…urge bold rethink as leaders gather to reshape the future of learning

By Gloria Ikibah

The Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker 9th House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that education remains Nigeria’s surest path to survival and global relevance.

Addressing participants at a high-level stakeholder roundtable on the Future of Education in Nigeria, to commemorate the 2026 International Day for Education on Monday in Abuja, themed “Re-imagining the Future of Education in Nigeria: Collaborative Solutions for a Brighter Tomorrow”, Gbajabiamila stressed the urgent need to reposition the nation’s schools to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

The gathering, drew policymakers, educationists and development partners committed to reforming the sector.

He applauded the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, for spearheading the conference, describing the initiative as a clear demonstration of the legislature’s commitment to national progress through educational advancement.

Gbajabiamila maintained that education must be viewed as far more than just another arm of the economy. For a country with Nigeria’s size and ambitions, he argued, it represents the foundation of long-term stability, prosperity and international competitiveness.

“Education is the bridge between potential and productivity; between aspiration and achievement,” he said, stressing that no country can compete globally without sustained investment in learning.

Reflecting on his time as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila highlighted his role in championing the Students’ Loans Bill, an initiative designed to remove financial barriers that prevent capable young Nigerians from pursuing tertiary education.

The legislation, he noted, was driven by the principle that opportunity should rest on merit and ability rather than social standing or wealth.

He pointed out that within the first three months of the current administration, Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave assent to the bill, clearing the path for the creation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and signalling early intent to prioritise access to higher learning.

The development, he suggested, aligns squarely with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, placing education at the heart of its broader reform strategy.

He also commended the 10th House of Representatives for intensifying oversight of tertiary education financing, backing measures to improve student welfare and advancing reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability across the sector.

In his view, the legislature has demonstrated that its role extends beyond passing laws, positioning itself as a critical partner in steering Nigeria’s long-term development.

“As Chief of Staff to the President, you can always count on my support. Education will remain central to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

He urged participants to move beyond dialogue and generate actionable recommendations to improve funding efficiency, strengthen oversight, and ensure that existing laws reflect present realities.

“Nigeria’s brightest tomorrow will be built in the classrooms we strengthen today,” he added.

In her opening address, Special Adviser to the Speaker on International Cooperation and Educational Development, Abisoye Da Rocha-Afodu, traced the origins of the International Day of Education to its proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, a move intended to affirm education as a basic human right.

She drew attention to the scale of Nigeria’s education crisis, noting that more than 20 million children remain out of school — the highest figure worldwide. Among the persistent obstacles, she listed inadequate infrastructure, low teacher morale and welfare, outdated curricula and limited access to digital tools, all of which continue to hamper progress.

The conference, she explained, was designed to convene legislators, policymakers, development agencies and key stakeholders to chart practical, lasting responses to these challenges. Stronger collaboration between government bodies, private enterprise and local communities was identified as critical to widening access to quality, inclusive learning, particularly for girls and people living with disabilities.

On safeguarding public resources, she indicated that the House is advancing legislative proposals aimed at ensuring regular scrutiny and transparent use of funds allocated to education programmes.

Also Chairman House Committee on Federal Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, Rep. Fuad Laguda, said the conference offered an opportunity to assess Nigeria’s education system against international benchmarks.

He noted that funding remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting the sector, particularly polytechnics and higher technical institutions.

Laguda stressed that collaboration was essential to meaningful reform, pointing out that participants from diverse sectors gathered to build synergy and chart a common path forward.

He added that any nation seeking sustainable development must invest heavily in education, stressing that Nigeria must raise its ambitions if it hopes to compete effectively on the global stage.

Although the International Day of Education is marked globally on 24 January, the event was rescheduled for February owing to the National Assembly’s January recess. The adjusted timing was also intended to allow for deeper engagement ahead of Ramadan and to focus attention on pressing concerns around funding, security and accountability within the sector.

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…as lawmakers pledge swift release of funds to strengthen national security operations

By Gloria Ikibah

The National Assembly has thrown its weight behind a proposed N1.504 trillion allocation for the Nigerian Army in the 2026 fiscal year, signalling strong legislative support for the country’s security framework.

During a joint session on Monday in Abuja, members of the Senate and House Committees on Army reviewed the spending plan and expressed satisfaction with the scale and structure of the proposal. The meeting formed part of the formal budget defence process for the upcoming year.

Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, confirmed that lawmakers were content with the presentation and emphasised their commitment to ensuring that approved funds are released without delay.

He underscored the importance of timely financing to enable the Army to effectively carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

The budget defence session was held with the Chief of Army Staff, Ltd. General Waidi Shaibu, who outlined the service’s operational priorities and financial requirements for the year ahead.

Lawmakers maintained that efficient funding remains central to strengthening ongoing military operations and enhancing national security across the country.

He said: “We had a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Army on the 2026 budget and after listening to the presentation of the Chief of Army Staff, all members have expressed satisfaction with it.

“However, all members of the joint Committee also agreed that the major issue is the delay in the release of funds, a matter, which is affecting all other MDAs.

“But I want to assure the Chief of Army Staff that we are committed to collaborating with him to succeed. The Army is so critical in our life as a nation and we would support you with everything that you need”.

Also lending his voice to the discussions, Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Rep. Aminu Balele, praised the Chief of Army Staff and personnel of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and unwavering commitment to tackling insurgency and safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity.

He reaffirmed the committee’s resolve to advocate for the prompt disbursement of allocated funds, stressing that adequate and timely financing remains essential for the Army to effectively discharge its constitutional duties.

Rep. Balele further indicated that the House Committee will sustain its oversight responsibilities with diligence, ensuring accountability and transparency in the implementation of the Army’s budget.

“As we close the 2026 budget defence, I want to thank my Senate counterpart, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and his colleagues for joining hands with us for this national assignment. I commend the Chief of Army Staff and his team for their patriotism and commitment.

“In my capacity as the chairman of the House Committee on Army, I wish to salute Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for his unwavering support. We know the issues involved with budgets and we are ready to push and will continue to push for the timely release of funds, so that you can deliver on your mandates”, he said.

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Supporters of ex- Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday had a raw deal with security operatives at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his arrival for questioning concerning his tenure as governor.

The development comes days after his lawyer, Ubong Esop Akpan, disclosed on Thursday that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had allegedly tried to arrest the former governor upon his arrival in Abuja.

According to Akpan, El-Rufai was approached by security officials shortly after landing in Abuja aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877 from Cairo.

He described the action as a violation of his client’s constitutional rights and an example of executive overreach.

The counsel explained that the EFCC’s invitation had earlier been delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was out of the country, making immediate compliance impractical.

He added that the legal team wrote to the commission in December 2025, notifying it that the former governor would respond upon his return to Nigeria.

Akpan further stated that the EFCC was formally informed that El-Rufai would voluntarily present himself at the commission’s office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.

He argued that any attempt to arrest him despite that commitment would undermine due process.

He maintained that there were no legal grounds for the alleged attempted arrest. Akpan called for the return of El-Rufai’s passport and demanded an apology for what he described as an infringement on his client’s fundamental rights.

However, speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, February 13, El-Rufai reiterated his readiness to honour the EFCC’s invitation and cooperate with any legitimate investigation.

He explained that his failure to honour a previous invitation last year was due to being on vacation at the time.

During the interview, El-Rufai made allegations against the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the DSS.

“The ICPC procured the DSS to abduct me for them; this is their modus operandi; they are personal tools of Nuhu Ribadu. The government thinks they are the only ones who listen to our calls without court orders, but someone tapped his phone, and I was informed,” he said.

But on Monday, his supporters carrying placards converged on the office of the EFCC in solidarity with the former governor, who at the time of filing this report was being grilled by the anti-graft agency.