Imo, Ogun and Rivers top list as 21 states abandon UBEC funds of N97.9 billion

… The crisis of out-of-school children in Nigeria, numbering 18.5 million, is worsening

…. Analysts warn of the consequences of security and poverty

Daud Olatunji

Imo, Ogun and Rivers states have emerged as the worst offenders among the 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory which have failed to access a total of ₦97.88 billion in basic education funds, compounding Nigeria’s worsening out-of-school crisis.

PLATFORM TIMES findings showed that the funds, allocated under the Universal Basic Education Commission intervention programme, remain unutilized largely due to the inability of state governments to provide the required financial counterpart.

An analysis of official documents obtained through a freedom of information request by a legal team led by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), revealed that Imo State tops the list with ₦10.6 billion in unattainable funds.

Ogun State follows with ₦9.7 billion, while Rivers State is in third place with ₦7.8 billion left untouched.
Other major defaulters include Niger, Abia and Oyo states, each with over ₦7 billion in unaffordable allocations.

The Federal Capital Territory accounts for ₦5.07 billion, while Ekiti, Bayelsa and Adamawa say each have over ₦3.5 billion still to be raised.

In total, 21 states and the FCT failed to access their UBEC allocations as of March 2026, despite Nigeria grappling with what global agencies describe as a full-blown education emergency.

Crisis amidst the increase in children not attending school
This development comes as Nigeria continues to record the highest number of out-of-school children globally, estimated at around 18.5 million.

Experts warn that the inability of states, particularly those with significant fiscal capacity, to access available funds for education reflects poor prioritization and weak governance.

Further checks revealed that 2025 saw the highest default under the UBEC scheme, with ₦68.1 billion remaining unaffordable in a single year.

… The funding bottleneck persists

Under the UBEC framework, the federal government provides matching grants to states to support primary and lower secondary education.

However, states must provide 50% matching funding before accessing grants, a requirement many have failed to meet.

While some states have consistently complied with this condition, others have repeatedly defaulted, leading to a constant accumulation of unused funds.

In contrast, states such as Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Delta, Enugu, Osun and Ondo have been given full access to their allocations, underscoring that the model is achievable where political will exists.

,..Falana blames governments

In reaction, Falana accused state governments and the FCT of failing to uphold the legal guarantee of free and compulsory basic education.

“As of March 2026, many state governments have refused to access over ₦97 billion from the UBEC fund,” he said.

“In addition to not accessing the grants, some states that have accessed the funds have failed to adequately use them to improve infrastructure and learning conditions.”

He lamented that despite numerous court rulings affirming the right to education, millions of Nigerian children remain without school.

“The ruling class has delivered the children of poor citizens to illiteracy and ignorance,” he added.

… Experts demand responsibility

Stakeholders have described the trend as a major failure of governance, calling for urgent interventions and sanctions against non-compliant states.

A public affairs analyst, Mashood Osho, said the refusal to access the funds was inexcusable.

“It’s not about lack of resources. Many of these states spend a lot on non-essential projects. The issue is a priority,” he said.

Osho urged the federal government to impose stricter compliance measures, including fines for non-compliant states.

Furthermore, youth development advocate, Abideen Olasupo, warned of the wider implications.

“When children are out of school, they become vulnerable to crime and exploitation. This is not just an educational issue; it is a national security concern,” he said.

A World Bank education specialist, Aisha Garba, noted that weak commitment at the state level could undermine international support for Nigeria’s education sector.

“If states fail to meet basic funding requirements, this raises serious concerns about governance capacity,” he said.

… Missed opportunity

Education experts said the ₦97.88 billion left without access could have significantly improved infrastructure, increased teacher recruitment and expanded access to education in disadvantaged communities.

A professor of education policy, Ibrahim Adewale, warned of long-term consequences.

“You are reinforcing poverty and inequality by denying children access to education. This is a ticking time bomb,” he said.

…At the crossroads

As Nigeria faces a deepening education crisis, the failure of key states such as Imo, Ogun and Rivers to access available funds highlights a worrying disconnect between policy and implementation.

Source: The Fist

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