In a significant boost to Nigeria’s educational infrastructure, the Federal Government has approved a substantial increase in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) matching grants available to state governments. The new allocation, set at N3,554,642,584.46 per state, marks a considerable rise aimed at bolstering basic education infrastructure across the country.
The announcement was made by Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), during a financial training session for State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) chairmen and board secretaries in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. The five-day event was designed to equip state officials with the necessary financial management skills to efficiently utilize the funds.
David Apeh, UBEC’s Public Relations Officer, released a statement quoting Bobboyi, who emphasized that the increased funding stems from 2% of the consolidated revenue fund, which is earmarked for supporting basic education in Nigeria. The increment follows the passage and assent of the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law, which paved the way for the enhanced statutory allocation.
“The 2024 Federal Government Statutory Allocation of the UBE matching grant to each state is N3,554,642,584.46,” Bobboyi announced. He further explained that under the UBEC Act of 2004, state governments are mandated to match this federal grant with an equivalent amount from their budgets, creating a total fund of over N7 billion per state for basic education projects in 2024.
Bobboyi highlighted that the previous allocation stood at approximately N1.3 billion per state annually. The significant increase to N3.5 billion per state is expected to provide a much-needed financial injection into the country’s basic education system, which is currently facing numerous challenges.
He urged states that have yet to access the 2023 matching grant, which amounted to N1,395,784,959.14 as of July 1, 2024, to expedite the process. “This is quite an impressive amount, considering the inflationary pressures on previous grants,” Bobboyi noted. He expressed optimism that the increased funds, when matched by the states, would result in a substantial impact on educational infrastructure, potentially doubling the financial resources available for UBE projects.
The executive secretary also provided an overview of the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s basic education sector. He revealed that approximately 46 million children are currently enrolled in schools nationwide, and stressed the need for continued efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, a key target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Bobboyi called on SUBEBs and state governments to work collaboratively to maximize the impact of the increased funding. He acknowledged that while the financial boost is significant, the real challenge lies in ensuring that the funds are used effectively to address the persistent issues within the basic education sector.
The training session in Ibadan brought together SUBEB chairmen, permanent secretaries, and executive secretaries from across the nation, underscoring the importance of financial management in the effective deployment of the increased grants. As state governments prepare to implement the 2024 UBE intervention projects, the focus remains on ensuring that the enhanced funds translate into tangible improvements in educational infrastructure and access for all Nigerian children.
With this increased allocation, the Federal Government reiterates its commitment to supporting state efforts to improve the quality of basic education, ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to a conducive learning environment.
