The United Nations (UN) yesterday warned that Nigeria may not achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-4) global agenda for universal inclusive and equitable basic education for all school-age children by 2030, given the current very low public investment in the education sector.
Consequently, the UN advised the country to increase its budgetary provision from its present 7% to 20% with clear accountabilities on delivery.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, gave the warning at the official launch of the Reports of the Independent Country-Led Evaluation of SDGs-3 and 4 in Nigeria, by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
SDG 3 relates to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, while SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The reports were supported by the Federal Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Health, and Education, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria.
Schmale noted that the reports indicate how quickly the government has established robust institutional monitoring and support frameworks at the national and sub-national levels to support effective implementation of the SDGs across the whole country.
While the findings of these evaluations show some improving health and education outcomes in Nigeria, the reports also contain some worrying analysis.
Country-led evaluations
He said: “country-led evaluations are a critical tool to provide data regarding what is and isn’t working, why, and for whom, and where to best target our limited resources.
“Good data makes for good policy. Without it, we are flying blind. While the findings of these evaluations show some improving health and education outcomes in Nigeria, the reports also contain some worrying analysis.
“In relation to SDG-4 on quality education, it is, for example, concerning to note that Nigeria is unlikely to achieve the global agenda for universal inclusive and equitable basic education for all school-age children by 2030, if the current very low public investment in the education sector remains the same.
“The evaluation indicates that the right policies (especially around free basic education and gender) are in place, but an increase in quality and access to education is critical.
“In the 2022 budget, there was an increase to 7% on education, but the evaluation says it will need to increase to 20% with clear accountabilities on delivery.
“Similarly, Government resources for health financing are inadequate for the achievement of SDG-3 targets related to good health and well-being.
“It is good to see that the recommendation of revitalizing Primary Health Care has already started and its effectiveness will be enhanced with a clear plan and accountability on human resources and financing at state level.
“Business as usual is not sufficient. In support of the government, we are keen to identify truly transformative initiatives that will catalyse tangible change in the lives and livelihoods of the Nigerian people. This new data will help determine which health and education programmes are really moving the needle. We can then look to expand, renew, and replicate them.
“We must collectively push forward with education and health sector specific transformative initiatives such as prioritising and revitalising basic Primary Health Care and improving the quality of teachers and learning in and out of classrooms.”
The findings contained in these strategic evaluations reinforce the evidence for improving health and educational outcomes in Nigeria, and highlight how all stakeholders, governments, development partners and civil society can best address systemic gaps and challenges.
Commitment and incentives
In his keynote address, Vice President Osinbajo said it is critical to build the commitment and incentives required to prioritize and increase Basic Educational Financing up to 12% at all levels.
He said: “The timing of the use of appropriated funds is also important. State governments should take advantage of the UBEC matching grants by making the required contributions.
“Educational stakeholders are encouraged to develop and strengthen coordination mechanisms that can help tighten the collaboration with information sharing between federal and the states on the one hand and non-state actors on the other hand.”
He added that with the adoption of the agenda and the SDGs, Nigeria has set for itself a vision to end extreme poverty and to safeguard our planet by the year 2030.
According to him, achieving inclusive sustainable development is an objective that aligns closely with the present administration’s desire to bring the 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years.
As a result, the federal government established a number of programs to support the acceleration of the achievement of the SDGs.
On the findings of the report, Osinbajo said: “The findings contained in these strategic evaluations reinforce the evidence for improving health and educational outcomes in Nigeria, and highlight how all stakeholders, governments, development partners and civil society can best address systemic gaps and challenges.
“So, this official launch today comes with a responsibility for us to intentionally use the key findings of the two evaluations to strengthen policies that support the achievement of the SDGs.”
He said that while the reports acknowledge that many states and non-state actors, both local and external, are already working on some of these recommendations,
“We look forward to the full and successful implementation of the recommendations as a holistic approach across the four thematic areas in a way that maximizes positive health impacts for the poor and the most vulnerable groups in Nigeria.”
He assured that the federal government will continue to promote strong partnerships and facilities amongst ministries departments and agencies, and between development departments also for coordinated implementation for SDGs in Nigeria.
Going forward, we must as a nation enhance capacity building of policymakers and strengthening of data systems to support SDG evaluation and reviews.
Effective implementation
In her opening remarks, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, argued that effective implementation of the SDGs requires periodic evaluation to ensure progress measurement, generate knowledge and inform policy shifts.
She said the evaluation on SDGs 3 and 4 have been prioritized based on Nigeria’s national development priorities as embedded in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP -2017-2020).
“The findings of this strategic evaluation support further the evidence for improving the rights of children to education in Nigeria and how the government at all levels, along with development partners and civil society, can best address systemic gaps and challenges. These include the negative effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to progress on our shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development,” she further said.
In launching the reports, she said Nigeria has shown that countries can begin to look beyond evaluation in the context of global reporting through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), to embed evaluation at the national and local level to achieve transformative development.
“Going forward, we must as a nation enhance capacity building of policymakers and strengthen data systems to support SDG evaluation and reviews,” she said.
Sustainable, equitable development
Deputy UN Secretary-General, Amina Muhammed, noted that by the reports, Nigeria recognizes that health and education are cornerstones for sustainable and equitable development and crucial to the resilience to global shocks.
She said: “The report is also very timely as the recommendations on education aligned with the focus areas of the transforming education summit, including inclusive and equitable education, especially for our girls, safe and healthy schools, foundational skills, and lifelong learning, digital skills and education financing.
“I encourage you all to swiftly turn these recommendations into actionable levels so that we can accelerate our implementation of the 2030 agenda.
“I congratulate Nigeria for the progress identified in the report. Let these results serve as a catalyst for even greater Achievements. I hope today’s event will boost our collective efforts to meet the development aspirations of the Nigerian people.”
