The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has raised serious concerns over the failure of state governments to claim more than ₦250 billion in federal intervention funds earmarked for primary education.
According to UBEC, these matching grants—meant to be co-financed by states—have remained untouched, with figures ranging between ₦250 billion and ₦263 billion lying idle as of December 2024. UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Aisha Garba (formerly Hamid Bobboyi) noted that although ₦51.6 billion was made available for the 2023 matching grant, only about ₦21 billion—or 41%—has been accessed by just 16 states as of June 30, 2024.
This underutilisation leaves billions unclaimed, exacerbating infrastructure deficits and contributing to the alarming rise in out‑of‑school children across the nation.Speaking at a national review meeting, Garba emphasized the critical need for swift state action and transparency. To tackle this chronic problem, UBEC has unveiled a newly redesigned framework aimed at simplifying the process of accessing these intervention funds.
The new system aligns disbursement with UBEC’s four strategic priorities: expanding access in underserved areas, enhancing teaching quality, strengthening financial accountability, and improving monitoring systems.The failure to utilize these education grants, UBEC argues, not only stalls progress in basic infrastructure but also undermines efforts to enrol and retain Nigeria’s youth in school. UBEC, along with lawmakers, is advocating for amendments to the 20‑year‑old UBEC Act and improved coordination between federal and state authorities to ensure every naira allocated directly benefits schoolchildren.
In closing, UBEC is urging state governors to provide the necessary counterpart funding and embrace the revamped access template. Without urgent remedies, millions of children continue to bear the brunt of underinvestment in basic education.—Let me know if you’d like more details added or tailored for a specific audience!
