Darlington: Govt Doesn’t Want Public Schools to Succeed in Nigeria

Abuja — Legal practitioner and social commentator, Barrister Darlington, has criticized the Federal Government for what he described as its deliberate neglect of Nigeria’s public education system, accusing authorities of prioritizing private profit over national development.

Speaking during a live program on VOP TV, Darlington expressed frustration over the continued underfunding of public universities, frequent strike actions, and the government’s slow response to education reforms.

“I don’t know why this government keeps punishing education. It’s like they don’t want public schools to thrive, just so their private universities can profit,” he said.

He argued that the government’s attitude toward education suggests a systemic attempt to weaken public institutions, thereby forcing citizens to patronize privately owned universities, many of which are allegedly linked to influential political figures.

Darlington lamented that the collapse of public education has left millions of young Nigerians without access to affordable and quality learning opportunities, widening the gap between the rich and poor.

“Education is supposed to be the foundation of national progress, but here, it’s treated like a burden. When leaders stop investing in knowledge, they are simply investing in ignorance,” he stated.

He urged the government to recommit to funding, reforming, and revitalizing the public education sector, emphasizing that no nation can grow beyond the quality of its schools.

“If they continue like this, Nigeria will keep producing graduates who are frustrated, undertrained, and unprepared for the future,” Darlington warned.

Observers say his remarks echo a growing national outcry over the state of Nigeria’s education system, where poor infrastructure, low funding, and recurring strikes have become the norm.