The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has revealed that over ₦250 billion in matching grants remains unutilised by state governments across Nigeria.
COMMENCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON DEFAULTERS OF GROUND RENT PAYMENTS, LAND USE CONVERSION FEE, C-OF-O BILLS In The Federal Capital Territory
Speaking at a three-day financial management training in Abuja on Monday, UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, said the funds are still lying idle in the accounts of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and the Federal Capital Territory.
COMMENCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON DEFAULTERS OF GROUND RENT PAYMENTS, LAND USE CONVERSION FEE, C-OF-O BILLS In The Federal Capital Territory
Garba said many state governments are either slow to access the UBE matching grants or are failing to use the funds for their intended purposes—mainly to improve infrastructure and learning in schools.
COMMENCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON DEFAULTERS OF GROUND RENT PAYMENTS, LAND USE CONVERSION FEE, C-OF-O BILLS In The Federal Capital Territory
She noted that although 25 states and the FCT accessed ₦92.4 billion in grants between January and June 2025, much of the funds remain unspent. The Commission also released ₦19 billion for teacher training to 32 states and the FCT, as well as ₦1.5 billion for school improvement projects in over 1,100 communities.
RELATED STORIES
Related Posts
Garba blamed the low fund usage on poor compliance with UBEC’s utilisation guidelines, contract irregularities, tax defaults, and failure to follow approved action plans. She said these issues were observed during her first official assignment in January, which involved monitoring the use of UBE funds in the North Central region.
To address the problem, UBEC has updated its fund utilisation guidelines, developed a new template for state action plans, and approved more capacity-building programs for SUBEB officials.
“This training is meant to equip fund managers with the skills needed to fix these issues—ranging from access and timely use to accountability at the grassroots,” she said.
Garba stressed that it is not the amount of money released that matters, but how well it is used to improve education. She urged participants to embrace transparency, take the training seriously, and apply what they learn to deliver results.
She also highlighted that the sessions will cover tax reforms, financial infractions, procurement procedures, and record-keeping to align state operations with UBEC’s goals and global best practices.
Comments are closed.