A faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), known as the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, has voiced strong criticism regarding the Akwa Ibom State Government’s allocation of N31.6 billion for education in the 2026 budget. This group claims the allocation, which amounts to a mere 2.27 percent of the state’s total N1.39 trillion budget, undermines the much-publicized ARISE Agenda purported by the government.
In a statement released in Uyo, the group’s chairman, Dr. Tom FredFish, and secretary, Mr. Savour Uko, expressed concern over the low funding for education, stating that it falls significantly short of UNESCO recommendations for educational expenditure. They highlighted comparisons to states like Anambra, which allocated 46.9 percent, Enugu at 32.3 percent, and Kano with 30 percent of their budgets to education, demonstrating a clear commitment to prioritizing educational investment.
The statement emphasized that the Akwa Ibom allocation not only suggests negligence but could also have dire consequences for the youth and future workforce of the state. The group deemed it ironic that the APC government would advocate for education while simultaneously allocating almost the entirety of public resources elsewhere.
Pointing to the financial capabilities of Akwa Ibom, they argued that the allocation does not align with the state’s wealth, calling for the state government and the House of Assembly to urgently review and increase the education budget in alignment with both national realities and international best practices. Failure to do so, they warned, would expose the ARISE Agenda as a superficial initiative rather than a genuine blueprint for development.
The PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice concluded their statement by reaffirming the necessity of substantial investment in education to secure a prosperous future for the state’s youth and the overall development of Akwa Ibom, urging that neglecting educational needs is tantamount to jeopardizing the state’s future.
