As Nigeria grapples with a deepening out-of-school crisis, billions of naira earmarked to improve access to education have gone unclaimed by the very states facing some of the country’s biggest learning challenges.
Despite the availability of N97.5 billion with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), 21 states failed to access the money, raising fresh questions about funding gaps, administrative bottlenecks and the commitment of state governments to tackling the growing number of children out of school.
According to information released by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) following a Freedom of Information request by Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, Abia State left N7.109 billion, Adamawa State N3.554 billion, Akwa Ibom N3.554 billion, and Anambra State N3.554 billion.
Bayelsa State left N3.554 billion, Cross River N3.554 billion, Ebonyi State N3.554 billion, Edo State N3.555 billion, Zamfara State N197.6 million, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) N5.077 billion, Gombe State N1.876 billion, Imo State N10.6 billion (highest defaulter), Kano State, Katsina State, Kebbi State, Kwara State N197.6 million, Lagos State N3.554 billion. Nasarawa State N3.554 billion, Niger State N7.109 billion, Ogun State N9.7 billion (second highest defaulter), Oyo State N7.109 billion, and Rivers State N7.809 billion.
