The Federal Ministry of Education has condemned a series of false and malicious reports targeting the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba. The ministry described the allegations, which were circulated by a faceless group claiming to be the Education Rights Activists Coalition (ERAC), as a sponsored smear campaign aimed at discrediting Garba’s reform-driven leadership.
In an official statement, the Ministry emphasized that the accusations of misconduct and lawlessness against Garba are baseless, misleading, and politically motivated. The Ministry warned that misinformation in today’s media space is a serious threat and must be swiftly addressed to prevent public deception.
Aisha Garba, a renowned education expert with over 24 years of global experience, including 15 years at the World Bank, has been at the forefront of transformative reforms in Nigeria’s basic education sector. Her leadership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, bringing transparency, accountability, and efficiency to UBEC’s operations.
Under Garba’s tenure, UBEC has recorded impressive achievements, including the construction of 4,951 new classrooms, renovation of 3,070 others, establishment of ECCDE centres nationwide, and distribution of over 5 million textbooks. Additionally, 353,625 units of school furniture have been supplied, and over 147,600 teachers trained in modern teaching methods. The Teacher Professional Development Programme has reached nearly 978,800 educators, while a curriculum overhaul now embeds digital literacy and entrepreneurship into Nigeria’s basic education framework.
The Ministry also highlighted Garba’s reforms in the Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP) and Matching Grant Formula, which have improved access to UBE funds. So far, ₦78.6 billion out of ₦120 billion allocated for 2024 has been accessed by 28 states and the FCT. Partnerships with global agencies such as UNICEF, World Bank, KOICA, and others have led to the successful execution of over 15,000 community projects under the School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC–SIP).
The Ministry reassured the public that no financial infractions have been recorded under Garba’s leadership, describing the smear campaign as the handiwork of “disgruntled elements resisting transparency and reform.” It urged Nigerians to disregard the false narratives and pledged unwavering support for Aisha Garba in her mission to deliver quality and inclusive education to Nigerian children.
