Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced concern over the ongoing strike by public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which has kept pupils out of school for over three months. In a statement shared via X, Obi emphasized that education is a vital pillar of human development and the key to national progress.
Obi highlighted the strong link between a nation’s level of education and its development, stressing that investment in education, especially at the foundational level, is the most important policy a country can pursue. He reminded the public that Nigeria is committed to global development goals that prioritize education and has domestic laws guaranteeing access to quality basic education.
Expressing disappointment, Obi noted that despite these legal and policy frameworks, the strike in Abuja has persisted, leaving children at home while the government focuses on renovating infrastructure. He criticized this as a misplacement of priorities, stressing that societal progress depends more on educating people than on physical development.
He concluded with a warning that neglecting education only worsens poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment. Obi called for a renewed national commitment to human capital development, particularly in education and healthcare, as the foundation for building a prosperous and secure Nigeria.
