The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has expressed deep concern over the failure of state governments to utilize over N250 billion intervention funds allocated for the development of basic education in Nigeria. Despite the significant amount of funds disbursed to states, many have failed to access or effectively utilize these resources, hindering the improvement of basic education in the country.
Key Highlights
- Unutilized Funds: As of July 2025, over N250 billion in intervention funds remains unutilized by state governments, sparking concerns about the effectiveness of basic education delivery.
- Slow Utilization: UBEC has disbursed significant funds to states, including N92.4 billion in UBE Matching Grants accessed by 25 states and the FCT between January and June 2025.
- Lack of Action Plans: Some states have failed to access funds due to lack of action plans, while others have been accused of misappropriating funds.
Implications
- Poor Basic Education: The failure to utilize UBEC funds has resulted in poor basic education infrastructure and a high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
- Insecurity and Poverty: Experts warn that this trend will exacerbate insecurity and poverty, further widening the illiteracy gap in the country.
Call to Action
- Judicious Utilization: UBEC has urged state governments to ensure judicious and accountable utilization of the matching grant disbursed to them for implementing basic education programs.
- Capacity Building: The commission has organized training programs to strengthen the financial management capacities of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) officials.
