Provision of Free Education for All Citizens in Nigeria

The idea of free education provision for the citizens of a nation has been a global phenomenon and contentious. Many individuals argue that education should be provided free to all citizens because it is a social service that is supposed to eradicate illiteracy and assure residents' comfort as well as the country's growth. Many people also believe that education should not be free for all residents, claiming that everything that is free is of poor quality. This paper examines the issue of free education provision, particularly as it concerns Nigeria. Specifically, it discusses the arguments in favour of this, such as the need for equity and egalitarianism, as well as the looming poverty in the society, limited access to education, low manpower/literacy level; as well as those against it, such as the parlous state of the country’s economy, perceived falling standard of education, unsatisfied admission demand for tertiary education, looming unemployment, and inadequate human, material, financial resources in educational institutions. To relieve the burden of education provision on the government and improve the status of education in Nigeria, recommendations are made, including the provision of scholarships and bursaries for pupils/students, the emergence of minimal fees in educational institutions as a way to share the cost of education with the government, and reaching out to international charity organizations.