The Federal Government is taking steps to clear a five-year backlog of Universal Basic Education,UBE, funds for over 30 states.
The backlog, which dates back to 2020 during the second term of former President Muhammadu Buhari, totals over ₦135 billion in unclaimed grants meant for basic education across the country.
President Bola Tinubu, upon returning from an official visit to Paris, approved a plan presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. The plan outlines a renewed strategy to unlock the funds and encourage state participation in basic education development.
The new approach includes tailored communications to over 30 state governors, detailing the specific amounts available to each state, alongside data on out-of-school children and infrastructural deficits.
It also outlines how the funds could be deployed for teacher training, classroom construction, and creating safer learning environments.
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The Federal Government hopes this data-driven strategy will push governors to act, especially those who had previously failed to access the funds due to the inability or unwillingness to provide the required 50 percent counterpart funding, as stipulated by the UBE Act 2004.
A copy of the letter sent to the Ogun State governor shows the state is entitled to ₦7.8 billion in unaccessed UBE grants between 2020 and 2024. The Minister of Education urged the governor to provide a matching grant to unlock the funds.
A Presidential source described the move as a means to “positively arm-twist” state governments into fulfilling their obligation to basic education. Previously, the Federal Government remained passive while states ignored the funds.
As of December 2024, 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory had yet to access their 2024 UBE allocations. However, states like Borno, Kano, and Jigawa have recently paid their counterpart funds.
The renewed push signals a new era of collaboration between federal and state governments in addressing Nigeria’s basic education challenges.
Crediblenewsng.com
