PROFILE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Data on federal government expenditure on education in Nigeria is not mute for the period 1977 – 1998. The table below presents the normal and real total expenditures of the federal government and their respective percentage growth. Specifically, the federal government spent a total of N8823.9 million in 1977. By 1980, total educational expenditure increased to N14, 968.5 million, declining to N11, 923.2 million and N9, 927.6 million in 1982 and 1984 respectively. An appreciable growth of 35 percent was recorded in 1986 at N 22,018.7 relatively to the 24.4 percent in 1986. By 1993, an unprecedented 106.07 percent growth accounting for N 191.228.9 million was observed. However, the year 1994 saw nominal growth of the

federal government expenditure falling to N 160,893.2 or a negative 15.86 percent. The period 1996 – 1998 show no appreciable growth rate.

One other observation that can be made regarding the data analysis is that total expenditure on education in Nigeria does not reflect changes in real terms. Relatively to nominal expenditure during the period under review (1977 – 1998), real percentage growth (1985 = 100) lagged behind their nominal counterparts. For example, in 1977 total nominal expenditure on education in 1977 was N 8,823.5 million. This rose to N 443,563.3 million in 1998. However, if changes in the general price level are taken into account, this amount reduces to a mere N140.85 million. Of the twenty – two years of our analysis (1977 – 1998), Fifteen years indicated negative growth rates of 68.2 percent in terms of real values.