EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: THE EXPECTATION AND REALITY

Abstract

The study examined the expectation and reality of education funding in Nigeria in relation to education for sustainable development. This study specifically, examined the reality of government expenditure on education as a catalyst for sustainable development, and determined the extent of disparity in expected and observed expenditure on education in Nigeria between years 1990-2022. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study. Secondary data was collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria's Statistical Bulletin, World Bank Indicator, and UNESCO. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage. The results showed that there have been fluctuations in the trends of yearly allocated budgetary expenditure on education since 1990 up till date. Also, the results revealed a wide gap between what was expected from the government in terms of their spending on education as proportion of the yearly total budgeted expenditure and what the government actually spent considering the expected recommendation or benchmark of 26%. The study concluded that given the reality of education sector funding in Nigeria, the education sector in Nigeria may not produce the needed manpower through which sustainable development agenda could be achieved. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the federal government should enact a law that will fix adequate yearly budgetary allocation through the National Assembly.