By Gom Mirian
N46.2 billion matching grant meant for the development of public primary and junior secondary schools has been unaccessed by 25 states including the Federal Capital Territory, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has said.
The Acting Executive Secretary, UBEC, Professor Bala Zakari, who disclosed this in Abuja, Wednesday during an oversight visit to the Commission by the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, said a total sum of N162 billion was allocated to the states as UBE grants between 2019 and 2022 while N116 billion was accessed by 36 states and FCT, representing 71.52 per cent as of April 30th.
he said: “In 2019, 35 states and FCT accessed the allocation, with only Anambra state yet to access the grant, while Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Kwara, and Ogun are yet to access it. In 2021, 11 states accessed the grant while in 2022, 29 states accessed it.”
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, noted that it was imperative to ensure that money disbursed by the government is used for the purpose it was released.
Gaidam, who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said, ” The visit was to also confirm the implementation of the 2022 budget of the commission and proposal for 2023. State governors to key into its UBEC projects by accessing its funds in order to shore up the nation’s basic education sector.”
