NUT Launches ‘Go Public, Fund Education’ Campaign in Kano

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has launched its “Go Public, Fund Education” campaign in Kano State, calling for increased investment in public education and stronger measures to reverse declining educational standards across Nigeria.

The campaign was launched on Thursday in Kano as part of the union’s efforts to draw public and government attention to the challenges confronting the country’s education sector, including inadequate funding, poor teacher welfare and the growing number of out-of-school children.

Speaking on behalf of the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, the union’s National Deputy President, Elder Comrade Kizito A. Kalu, said the campaign was aimed at mobilising Nigerians and governments at all levels to prioritise education as a fundamental driver of national development.

Kalu said Nigeria’s education system remained below internationally recommended standards, stressing the need for governments to substantially increase funding for the sector.

“We are in Kano to launch the ‘Go Public, Fund Education’ campaign for the Nigerian educational system,” he said.

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According to him, the campaign seeks to ensure that Nigeria develops an education system capable of meeting international standards and providing children with access to quality and affordable public education.

He expressed concern over the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in the country, saying the campaign would seek to encourage governments at the federal, state and local levels to develop and implement effective strategies to address the problem.

NUT demands better welfare for teachers
The NUT deputy president also linked the decline in educational standards to inadequate attention to teachers’ welfare.

Kalu called on governments to improve teachers’ remuneration, working conditions and professional development, noting that teachers remained central to the success of the education system.

“Teachers are not well taken care of, and that is why you see the educational standard in Nigeria continuing to fall,” he said.

He added: “You cannot teach on an empty stomach. Teachers are like candles—they burn themselves to illuminate their environment, and no nation can grow above the standard of its education.”

The union therefore urged governments to treat investment in teachers as an essential component of investment in education rather than as a recurrent burden.

Kano govt backs campaign
The Kano State Ministry of Education expressed support for the campaign, describing it as an important initiative towards addressing the challenges facing public education and the out-of-school children crisis.

Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Bashir Baffa Muhammad, said the campaign aligned with the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s vision for the education sector.

Muhammad said increased public and international support was required to address the socio-economic factors contributing to school exclusion and poor access to quality education.

He noted that collaboration among government institutions, teachers’ unions, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders could strengthen efforts to improve educational access and standards.

According to him, bringing organisations such as the NUT and development partners together under the campaign provides an opportunity to build broader support for public education and encourage greater community participation in school development.

He said the initiative would complement ongoing efforts by the Kano State Government to improve education funding and encourage public involvement in the development of schools.

The launch brought together representatives of the NUT, Kano State Ministry of Education and other education stakeholders, with participants calling for sustained investment in public schools, improved teacher welfare and stronger measures to ensure that more Nigerian children remain in school.

The union said the “Go Public, Fund Education” campaign would continue to advocate increased investment in public education and greater accountability in the utilisation of funds allocated to the sector.