By Mahmoud Muhammad, Kano.
KADUNA — The Kaduna State Government has challenged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Ashiru, to substantiate his criticism of Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to education, saying public debate on the sector should be guided by verifiable facts rather than political claims.
The challenge followed Ashiru’s criticism of the state government’s education policies and concerns reportedly raised over the conditions of service at Kaduna State University (KASU), including claims that about 200 academic staff and professors had resigned from the institution.
Responding in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, acknowledged Ashiru’s right to criticise the administration but argued that such criticism should be based on accurate information, particularly on issues involving public finances and education.
Maiyaki specifically disputed the claim that UNESCO recommends governments allocate between 15 and 20 per cent of their budgets to education. He explained that the Education 2030 Framework for Action recommends at least four to six per cent of Gross Domestic Product or 15 to 20 per cent of total public expenditure, while stressing the importance of accurately interpreting the benchmark.
According to the commissioner, Kaduna State allocated 25 per cent of its total budget to education in 2024 and increased the allocation to 26.14 per cent in 2025.
He added that the 2026 budget also provides about 25 per cent for education, representing approximately N246.5 billion out of the N985.9 billion total budget.The figures, if independently verified, indicate that education has remained one of the largest areas of public expenditure in the state over the past three budget cycles.
However, the debate also raises a broader question of whether the size of budgetary allocations alone should be used to measure the quality of education, or whether outcomes, implementation and conditions within institutions should receive equal attention.
The government said its spending had produced measurable results, particularly in basic education and vocational training.
Maiyaki stated that the National Board for Technical Education had recognised three Skills Development and Vocational Training Centres established by the administration as among the best-equipped and structured facilities of their kind in the country.
He further claimed that Kaduna’s out-of-school children population had declined from more than 550,000 to 187,719 within three years, attributing the reduction to enrolment campaigns, infrastructure development and sustained investment in education.
The government also said some elements of the Kaduna approach had informed Federal Government interventions targeting skills development and out-of-school children.On KASU,
Maiyaki listed several interventions which the government said were designed to support staff and strengthen the institution.
These include more than N800 million for staff welfare, N146 million for withheld salaries and SIWES obligations, a N50 million monthly intervention, and more than N200 million in overhead support during 2026.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state had committed more than N300 million to the accreditation of 57 academic programmes and resource verification for 60 postgraduate programmes.
He said these efforts contributed to the accreditation of seven professional programmes and the establishment of the university’s Digital Learning Centre.On student welfare, the government said it had spent more than N1.6 billion on scholarships and other support programmes, while tuition fees across state-owned tertiary institutions had been reduced by 50 per cent.
The administration argued that these measures were inconsistent with allegations that it was indifferent to education.
Nevertheless, the controversy over the reported resignation of academic staff remains an issue that requires transparent clarification.
Rather than relying solely on competing political claims, the names of those who allegedly resigned, their dates of departure, positions and stated reasons for leaving could provide a clearer basis for determining the scale and causes of the problem.
Maiyaki therefore challenged those making the claim of about 200 resignations to provide supporting evidence, while acknowledging the role of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, KASU chapter, in advocating for improved welfare and working conditions.
The Kaduna education debate ultimately goes beyond the disagreement between the government and an opposition candidate.
While government spending figures and reported achievements are important indicators, concerns about staff welfare, industrial relations, accreditation, learning conditions and institutional stability also deserve serious consideration.
The most constructive approach, therefore, would be for all sides to present verifiable evidence and engage the issues objectively, allowing citizens to judge whether Kaduna’s education investments are translating into sustainable improvements for students, teachers and institutions.
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