Some educationists on Friday called on state governments and private operators to complement federal allocation to education in 2018 to achieve the UNESCO-recommended 26 per cent of the total budget.

In interviews with the Newsmen in Lagos, the educationists said that state governments and private sector operators must join hands to develop the sector.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Nov. 8, presented a national budget proposal of N8.612 trillion to the National Assembly.

A total of N605.8 billion was allocated to education, representing 7.04 per cent of the total budget.

The allocation comprised N435.1 billion for recurrent expenditure, N61.73 billion for capital expenditure and N109.06 billion for the Universal Basic Education Commission.

The Head of National Office (HNO) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr Olu Adenipekun, said that education funding should not be left for the Federal Government alone.

“If the federal government should bring its quota and the state and private sector do the same, we will surpass the 26 per cent benchmark set by the UNESCO for every nation,’’ he said.

According to Adenipekun, Nigerians should look at the budget holistically before advancing arguments for or against the federal allocation.

“We must all learn to approach issues holistically. Funding of education should not rest solely on the federal government.

“We must ensure we all play our parts well so that together, with the efforts of the federal government, we can achieve the desired turnaround in the sector.

The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) also urged the federal and state governments to improve education funding.

Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, a Deputy National President of the association, told Newsmen that the proposed allocation to education for 2018 would not accelerate transformation of the sector.

He said that there was rot in infrastructure in all the three levels of education particularly in the primary and secondary levels.

“It is time for us to wake up and be very responsive to our education system.

“We are all familiar with the dilapidation of structures in our schools, from the primary up to the university level.

“There are hardly any good libraries and laboratories in our schools; even where they exist, they are not well-equipped,’’ he said.

According to him, state Universal Basic Education Boards are doing well to develop education but should step up efforts.

A Senior Lecturer, Prof. Aloy Ejiogu, told Newsmen that the proposed allocation to education fell short of UNESCO’s recommendation.

Ejiogu, who lectures in the Department of Educational Management, University of Lagos, said that more funding would be required to add value to the quality of education in Nigeria.

He said that there was the need for the Federal Government to place premium on education quality education rather than quantity.

Mr Femi Adesanya, also a Senior Lecturer, urged the National Assembly to increase the allocation to education to at least 20 per cent before passing the proposed budget bill.

Adesanya, who teaches in the Department of English and General Studies, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, told Newsmen that the seven per cent allocation proposed for education was inadequate.

He told Newsmen that the allocation would not be able to make a significant impact in the sector.

According to him, no nation can develop without educated minds; therefore, governments should tackle challenges facing the education sector by improving its funding.

“The National Assembly should wake up to its responsibility and increase the allocation to the sector,’’ he said.

Dr Adekunle Idris, the immediate past Chairman of  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) Chapter, also expressed dissatisfaction at the budgetary allocation.

He said that successive administrations did not allocate enough funds to the sector.

“It is really sad because, at the end of the day, the actual implementation will be a far cry from the budgeted expenditure,’’ he said.