The Public Returns to Educational Attainment in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the public (social) returns to education using cross-sectional analyses of states in Nigeria. The study focuses on the impacts on productivity (i.e. GDP Per Capita) of the different levels of education (primary, secondary/vocational and tertiary). The paper utilizes the most recent Household Survey data on Nigeria (LSMS 2012/2013). The regression results show that secondary and vocational education have higher social returns than the tertiary level of education. The results suggest the need for the governments to increase investment in the secondary and vocational education. The findings continue to support sharing of costs between governments and the beneficiaries at tertiary education level.