Govs snub N98bn UBEC funds despite Nigeria facing what global agencies describe as a severe education crisis, with billions meant for basic education remaining unutilised across states.
The funds, valued at ₦97,881,553,326.94, were allocated under the Universal Basic Education Commission intervention framework but have not been accessed by several state governments.
The funds are designed to support primary and junior secondary education nationwide. However, access to the grants requires states to provide 50 per cent counterpart funding, a condition many have failed to meet.
This requirement has resulted in the accumulation of unaccessed funds despite growing demand for improved education infrastructure and services.
Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by a legal team led by human rights lawyer Femi Falana revealed that at least 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory had not accessed their allocations as of March 2026.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria records one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally.
Figures from UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Education estimate about 18.5 million children are currently out of school, representing nearly one in five globally.
Education experts attribute the crisis to multiple factors, including poverty, insecurity, weak governance, and inadequate investment in foundational education.
UNICEF has warned that failure to address these challenges could result in what it described as a “generational catastrophe” with long-term implications for economic growth and national stability.
Under the Universal Basic Education framework established by the 2004 UBE Act, the Federal Government provides matching grants to states to improve access and quality of education.
Universal Basic Education Commission coordinates the programme, which aims to deliver free and compulsory basic education nationwide.
However, the requirement for counterpart funding has emerged as a major bottleneck. While some states consistently meet the condition and access funds, others have failed, leading to significant disparities in implementation.
Analysis shows that 2025 recorded the highest level of unaccessed funds, with ₦68.1bn left unused within a single year.
Breakdown of the data shows that Imo State has the highest unaccessed allocation at ₦10.6bn, followed by Ogun with ₦9.7bn and Rivers with ₦7.8bn. Other states, including Niger, Abia, and Oyo, each recorded over ₦7.1bn in unaccessed funds.
The Federal Capital Territory accounts for ₦5.07bn, while Ekiti, Bayelsa, and Adamawa each have over ₦3.5bn left unused.
In contrast, 15 states have consistently accessed their UBEC allocations. These include Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Delta, Enugu, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun.
Experts say this demonstrates that the counterpart funding model is workable where political will and fiscal discipline exist.
Commenting on the development, Falana criticised both federal and state authorities for failing to guarantee access to free basic education.
He said, “As of March 2026, the authorities… have refused to access over N97bn from the Universal Basic Education Commission Fund.”
He further noted that despite existing legal provisions under the Child’s Rights Act and the UBE Act, millions of Nigerian children remain out of school.
He also raised concerns that some states fail to properly utilise funds even when accessed, particularly in improving infrastructure and learning conditions.
Education stakeholders described the situation as both a governance and policy failure. Public analyst Mashood Osho said it is “inexcusable” for funds earmarked for education to remain unused while millions of children are out of school.
The implications extend beyond education. Experts warn that the inability to invest in basic education increases vulnerability to poverty, unemployment, and insecurity.
According to development advocates, uneducated populations are more exposed to exploitation and social instability.
The situation where Govs snub N98bn UBEC funds highlights ongoing challenges in education financing and governance at the sub-national level.
Stakeholders have called for increased accountability, stronger enforcement of compliance requirements, and urgent policy action to ensure that allocated resources are fully utilised.
