Kano proposes N332bn for education in 2027

File photo: Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf

The Kano State Government has proposed allocating 30 per cent of its ₦1.107 trillion 2027 budget to the education sector, making it the highest-funded sector in the fiscal plan.

Governor Abba Yusuf disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the budget estimates to the state House of Assembly.

Yusuf said the allocation reflected the administration’s continued commitment to improving access to quality education, strengthening institutions and investing in human capital development.

“This substantial allocation to education demonstrates our determination to consolidate the gains recorded in the sector and sustain reforms that improve learning outcomes across the state,” Yusuf said.

The governor highlighted key achievements, including the recruitment of 8,588 teachers in the 2026 fiscal year, comprising 4,900 permanent teachers and 3,688 under the BESDA programme.

Other interventions include the payment of examination fees for more than 150,000 students sitting for NECO, NBAIS and NABTEB examinations, settlement of outstanding boarding school feeding obligations and rehabilitation of educational facilities.

The administration also supported students’ participation in JAMB/UTME examinations through the provision of application forms, registration and preparatory training.

Yusuf noted that Kano State maintained its leading position on the 2026 NECO performance chart for the second consecutive year.

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“We will continue to invest in teacher development, school infrastructure, instructional materials and digital learning facilities to strengthen education as the foundation for sustainable development,” the Governor stated.

Northern Nigeria as a whole has struggled with low school enrolment and a high number of out-of-school children, a problem that has drawn the attention of federal and state governments and development partners.

Teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure and poor learning outcomes have been persistent concerns.

The 30 per cent allocation is above the 15 to 20 per cent of national budgets that UNESCO recommends governments devote to education, a benchmark Nigeria has often fallen short of at both federal and state levels.

Proposed allocations, however, do not always translate into actual spending, and budget performance in the sector is often scrutinised by civil society groups.