By Uriel Ihotu Abuja, August 5, 2025
The Federal Ministry of Education has officially condemned what it described as a “sponsored smear campaign” targeting the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba. In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, expressed deep concern over recent media reports and statements circulated by a little-known group operating under the name “Education Rights Activists Coalition (ERAC).”
The reports, which accuse Dr. Garba of administrative misconduct and disregard for due process, were described by the Ministry as baseless, malicious, and a calculated attempt to undermine the reforms currently transforming Nigeria’s basic education sector.
“These claims are completely untrue, misleading, and clearly orchestrated by disgruntled individuals resisting the reform agenda under her leadership,” the Minister stated.
According to Dr. Alausa, Aisha Garba’s tenure at UBEC has been marked by transparency, innovation, and accountability. With over 24 years of experience including 15 years at the World Bank Garba has brought global best practices to UBEC, aligning her leadership with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Under her stewardship, UBEC has delivered major infrastructural and systemic improvements in Nigeria’s basic education landscape. These include the construction of 4,951 classrooms, renovation of 3,070 others, establishment of ECCDE centres nationwide, and the distribution of over 5 million textbooks and 353,625 pieces of furniture. Additionally, more than 147,600 teachers have been trained in modern and inclusive pedagogical approaches, while nearly 978,800 educators have benefitted from Nigeria’s largest-ever Teacher Professional Development initiative.
Garba has also led critical reforms in the administration of the Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP) and the Matching Grant Formula, enabling 28 states and the FCT to access ₦78.6 billion from the ₦120 billion allocated for 2024. Strategic collaborations with international partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, KOICA, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the FCDO have further strengthened UBEC’s capacity and reach.
Moreover, through the School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC–SIP), over 15,000 community-driven projects have been successfully implemented across the country. The Commission continues to uphold transparency, with no financial infractions recorded under Garba’s administration.
“It is disheartening that certain subversive elements, threatened by Dr. Garba’s bold and reformist leadership, have resorted to orchestrating false narratives to derail the progress made so far,” Dr. Alausa said. “Their efforts are both futile and desperate.”
The Ministry has urged the public and stakeholders in the education sector to disregard the unfounded allegations and reaffirmed its unwavering support for Dr. Aisha Garba.
“On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, I reaffirm our full confidence in Aisha Garba and her continued leadership at UBEC. We stand firmly with her as she sustains her transformational efforts to deliver quality, safe, and inclusive basic education to Nigerian children and reposition our education system for global competitiveness,” the statement concluded.
