Nine states have received N27.8bn from the Universal Basic Education Commission to improve basic education, according to the latest disbursement data obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.
UBEC, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Education, is responsible for implementing Universal Basic Education programmes across Nigeria.
Under the UBEC Act, the Federal Government provides funding for basic education, while state governments and the Federal Capital Territory are required to contribute 50 percent counterpart funding to access the total allocation available to them.
Despite these funding mechanisms, Nigeria’s basic education system continues to grapple with poor funding, teacher shortages, and dilapidated infrastructure.
According to UBEC’s data, Abia State received N4.2bn, covering outstanding balances from 2011, 2020, and 2023. Akwa Ibom State was allocated N1.3bn as the balance for the first to fourth quarters of 2023, while Ebonyi State received N2.6bn, covering balances from 2022 and 2023.
Similarly, Enugu and Jigawa states each received N3.5bn while Kano State was paid N1.7bn, covering the first and second quarters of 2024.
Ondo State received N3.5bn for the first to fourth quarters of 2024, while Sokoto and Yobe states were also allocated N3.5bn each for the same period.
Reacting to the disbursement, a representative of Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, emphasised the need for state governments to ensure that these funds are effectively utilizsd for the development of basic education.
“Governors must ensure that these funds are adequately utilised to provide quality education for children. We shouldn’t continue to receive reports of pupils learning under trees while such funds are available,” Ayodamola stated.
