By Comfort Chukwukelue
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has revealed that the Federal Government is collaborating with state governors to address the alarming issue of out-of-school children across the country.

Dr. Alausa disclosed this during the 2025 Budget Defence session of the Joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions, TETFund, and Education, held on Tuesday in Abuja. He noted that the partnership involved meetings with state governors and all 36 commissioners for education, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in a bid to devise lasting solutions to the crisis.
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“So, we’re working together on this. It now has to be a collaborative effort on what we have to do,” Alausa said. “The number of out-of-school children is mind-boggling and disturbing. It is not just in one geopolitical region—it is everywhere. We need to confront it, else we will be consumed by it. We have to engage with our governors, and we have held meetings with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on how to collaborate on this.”
The minister also lamented the abandonment of Almajiri Schools, which were established during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to address the problem.
“Of the over 100 schools built for out-of-school children, only a few are operational. The funding of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Commission is not enough. We need more funding in this regard,” he stated.
Dr. Alausa stressed the need for human capital development to enhance the education sector, warning that Nigeria’s low human capital index poses a significant threat to the nation’s survival and development.
“We want them to develop. It’s the best part of any society. Without education, we can’t survive as a society. And if you look at the human capital index, Nigeria has one of the lowest in the world,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, highlighted the critical role of education in national development.
“As lawmakers, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that resources allocated to this critical sector are strategically planned and utilized,” Dandutse said.
He further noted that the 2025 proposed budget is expected to address gaps identified in the 2024 Appropriation while introducing innovative strategies to tackle emerging challenges in the education sector.
The Federal Government’s renewed collaboration with state governments signifies a critical step toward addressing the education crisis and ensuring Nigeria’s future development.