Not many states have accessed N45.7bn UBE fund — UBEC boss

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, has revealed that over 45.7 billion matching grants to state governments for implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) between 2020 and 2023 have not been accessed by many states.

He made this known on Wednesday when he received members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, on an oversight visit to the Commission in Abuja.

Bobboyi, also disclosed that only 16 states have so far accessed the 2023 matching grant, representing 41 per cent of the appropriated N51.6 billion.

According to him, the sum of N51.6 billion was appropriated by the Federal Government as a matching grant to states in 2023, explaining that only N21 billion was accessed by the 16 states as of June 30.

He listed the 16 states to include, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Nasarawa Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.

“Out of N103.2 billion appropriated amount for 2023, being two per cent of Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), the sum of N55 billion was utilised.

“This is being total expenditure under UBE implementation, matching grant, educational imbalance, special education and monitoring and programmes funds as of June 30, 2024. Thus showing 54 per cent utilisation.

“For the 2023 matching grant disbursement status, the sum of N21 billion was accessed by 16 states out of N51.6 billion appropriated, representing 41 per cent as of June 30,” he said.

He said one of the challenges being faced by the Commission was the inability of some state governments to access UBE matching grants as and when due.

Bobboyi noted that the quest to deliver quality basic education as well as address the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria, requires all stakeholders including the National Assembly to join forces together to achieve.

He lamented that some state governments lacked political and commitment to basic education issues, saying this further exacerbated the menace of out-of-school children in the country.

The chairman, House Committee on Universal Basic Education and Services, Hon. Mark Bako Useni, on his part, described the about 20-year-old UBEC Act, as obsolete and inadequate to address the emerging challenges of basic education in Nigeria; hence the urgent need to amend the law.

Useni who is the member representing Takum/Ussa/Donga Federal Constituency, revealed that already, the bill to that effect has already passed first and second readings in the House and is now at the committee stage.

He said, “UBEC act has been in place for nearly 20 years. From the time the law came into force till today, we have passed through several stages of development; so one cannot hold on to one thing over the years.

“Like the issue of un-accessed funds, if we don’t amend the act, the challenge would continue to be there but if the act is amended and there are measures to make sure that we overcome unaccessed funds, the primary and secondary education would serve our children better.”

He said the oversight function was necessary to see how basic education has fared in the last one year.

Useni said the committee needs to know the areas of interventions the commission would be required to enhance quality basic education in the country.

“In our drive toward ensuring every Nigerian child is back to school and able to learn, we have high expectations from UBEC over the years.

“If the federal government has not established UBEC, you can only imagine what will become of basic education in the country,” he said.

He added, “The challenge of unavailability of teachers also is beyond what we can achieve at this level. UBEC does not recruit teachers for LEA, it is the responsibility of states and local governments.

“What UBEC does is an intervention to check the quality of teachers and make them up to date, we are going to engage state actors to make sure that we call attention to these serious problems.

“Nigerians know that this intervention agency must play a pivotal role in the education of our children and everybody needs to know how far you fared.

“What are the challenges you are having, we need to ensure you do what you are meant to do.

“We must work very hard to change the tide of basic education.”

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