Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) said on Tuesday that state governments have failed to access or spend more than 332 billion naira ($220 million) earmarked for basic education, warning the delay is holding back school improvements nationwide.
UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba said states have drawn down over 177 billion naira in UBE Matching Grants so far. But more than 65 billion naira in required counterpart funding remains unclaimed, while roughly 267 billion naira in intervention funds already released to states has gone unspent, she said.
Garba made the comments at the opening of UBEC’s 30th quarterly meeting with heads of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) in Asaba, Delta state.
“[The funds must be] properly planned, deployed and converted into measurable improvements in schools,” Garba said, adding that unspent money was delaying repairs to classrooms, sanitation facilities and school infrastructure.
Under Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Act, states must provide 50% matching funds and submit an approved action plan before they can access federal grants — a requirement officials say has repeatedly slowed disbursement.
Garba said UBEC is reviewing its 10-year strategic roadmap, extending it through 2035, and urged states to prepare for the World Bank-backed HOPE-EDU programme, which includes up to $500 million for education. To qualify, states must access their 2026 matching grant and show at least 50% completion of their 2025 action plan, she said.
UBEC also launched a new digital platform, the Basic Education Action Plan Management System, intended to replace manual processes for submitting state action plans.
Similar warnings over unspent UBEC funds — ranging from 250 billion to 263 billion naira — have surfaced repeatedly since mid-2025.
