Nigeria’s education sector is facing a severe setback as 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory have failed to access N263 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants. The funds, meant to improve infrastructure, teacher training, and enrolment in basic education, are lying idle due to states’ inability to provide counterpart funding.

The UBEC funds are a crucial lifeline for Nigeria’s basic education, with the potential to build and rehabilitate thousands of classrooms, recruit and train teachers, and provide textbooks and learning materials. However, many states have failed to access the funds, citing bureaucratic hurdles and lack of political will.

The situation is alarming, with Nigeria hosting the highest number of out-of-school children globally, estimated at 18.5 million. The Federal Government has approved a plan to disburse the unaccessed funds, but experts warn that more needs to be done to address the systemic issues plaguing the education sector.