By Charles Maduka
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the continued strike by public primary school teachers in Abuja, which has kept pupils out of school for over three months.
Obi made his remarks on Thursday via a post on X, where he described education as the most essential element of human development. He stressed that national progress depends heavily on the quality of education received by its citizens.
He reminded the public that Nigeria is a signatory to both the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, which identify education as a key pillar for growth. He also referenced the Universal Basic Education law, which mandates access to quality education for all Nigerian children.
Obi expressed concern that despite these commitments, pupils in the Federal Capital Territory remain at home due to unresolved issues between teachers and government authorities. He criticised the government’s focus on renovating infrastructure while neglecting the educational needs of young Nigerians.
According to him, “The foundation of societal development is an educated citizenry, not physical infrastructure. True development is about building people. It is about educating the next generation.”
He warned that failure to prioritise education would lead to worsening poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment. Obi called for urgent investment in human capital, particularly in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, describing it as the true path to building a better Nigeria.
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