Lagos Spends ₦1.5bn on 2024 WASSCE, Records 31,596 Student Failures — Commissioner
The Lagos State Government has revealed that it spent a total of ₦1,577,794,000 to cover the fees for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for 58,188 students in public schools. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during the 2025 Ministerial Briefing held on Thursday in Alausa, Ikeja, as part of the activities marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term anniversary.
Despite this significant financial commitment, 31,596 students from public schools failed the examination, raising concerns about the effectiveness and quality of the state’s education system.
Alli-Balogun explained that biometric capturing was conducted for all SS3 students to ensure that only verified candidates benefited from the government’s sponsorship. From this process, 56,134 studentswere confirmed as genuine beneficiaries.
He encouraged students, especially those in boarding schools, to fully embrace the opportunities presented by the state’s free education policy, emphasizing that education should be seen as a “lifelong journey.”
As part of the government’s broader efforts, the commissioner stated that about 30,000 out-of-school children have been reintegrated into the public school system. This initiative aims to combat rising illiteracy and curb social vices among youths.
Highlighting the state’s strategic focus under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda, particularly its third pillar — Education and Technology — Alli-Balogun noted ongoing initiatives to reverse the trend of poor WASSCE performance. One such measure is the Eko Learners’ Support Programme, launched in January 2025, to help WASSCE and NECO candidates improve their academic outcomes.
In addition to exam-focused interventions, the commissioner announced that ₦102.5 million was disbursed for Teachers’ Housing Loans in 2024, benefiting 118 teachers, including applicants from previous years. Also, between 2023 and 2024, 4,353 new teachers were recruited and integrated into the state’s Oracle database before being deployed to education districts and technical colleges.
Alli-Balogun also urged students to steer clear of cultism, drug abuse, and examination malpractice, encouraging them instead to engage in productive extracurricular activities.
In a follow-up briefing, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, said the ministry is working to realign Lagos State’s higher institutions with global education standards. He announced the rehabilitation of 30 secondary school libraries and the harmonization of salary structures in state-owned tertiary institutions.
Sule further disclosed that the government plans to upgrade the Lagos State University College of Medicine into a full-fledged University of Medical and Health Sciences, in response to the shortage of health professionals.
He noted that institutions like Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology have recorded significant progress in research, staff development, and accreditation of academic programmes. He affirmed the government’s continued investment in digital literacy, innovation, sports, and infrastructure, reinforcing education as a key tool for sustainable development.
