State governments across Nigeria have left 264.12 billion naira in Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, matching grants unspent, despite persistent challenges facing public schools, including dilapidated classrooms, overcrowding and shortages of learning materials.
The 2025 UBEC Annual Report, obtained by newsmen, revealed that the funds had been disbursed to State Universal Basic Education Boards but remained unspent in state government accounts as of July 21, 2025, when the commission conducted financial monitoring visits across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Benue State recorded the highest unspent balance of 19.18 billion naira, followed by Imo with 14.12 billion naira, Osun with 14.02 billion naira, Kwara with 13.99 billion naira and Delta with 13.40 billion naira.
The five states accounted for 74.72 billion naira, representing approximately 28.3 per cent of the total unspent funds.
The findings have raised concerns about the utilisation of resources intended to improve access to quality basic education, particularly as pupils in some communities continue to learn in deteriorating school buildings, overcrowded classrooms and makeshift structures.
In Benue and Kwara states, residents and education stakeholders have reportedly highlighted the poor condition of school facilities and inadequate interventions, underscoring the gap between available funds and the pressing needs of public schools.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, criticised the failure to utilise funds earmarked for basic education, accusing state governors of neglecting the educational needs of underprivileged children.
Falana urged state governments to deploy released intervention funds and meet the requirements for accessing counterpart grants.
Citing a Federal High Court judgment on the obligation of governments to provide free, compulsory and universal basic education, he also called for greater accountability in the management of education funds and measures to ensure that every child has access to schooling.
The report indicates that the unspent balances span different administrations, involving both outgoing and incumbent governors. However, it does not specify the amounts received, inherited or left unutilised by each administration.
The development has renewed questions about the accountability of state governments in managing education intervention funds and the extent to which such resources are being translated into improved learning conditions for Nigerian children.
