From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that states in the Northwest geopolitical zone have impressive records in terms of accessing the UBEC intervention funds (100%) for different years, while otherwise was the case for states in Southeast (85.37%).
Similarly, states in the South-South had 97.92 per cent record; North Central had 97.76 per cent, North East had 97.57 per cent, and South West had 92.28 per cent. The region that had 100 per cent access to UBEC intervention funds had the highest number of out-of-school children, as well as poor numeracy and literacy levels among children.
These were contained in a presentation made by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobbyi, during an oversight visit of by the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, in Abuja, on Monday.
In the presentation, the UBEC boss stated that in 2020, 34 states and FCT accessed their respective matching grants, while two states, Abia and Ogun states, failed to access theirs. In 2021, 33 states and FCT successfully accessed their respective matching grants, while Abia, Ogun and Imo states, failed to access theirs.
He noted in 2022, the number reduced, as 29 states, and FCT successfully accessed their respective matching grants, while seven states, namely, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Ogun, and Oyo, failed to access theirs.
The number further reduced in 2023 as 25 states accessed the first to fourth matching grant. But one state, Rivers, accessed only the first and second matching grants, while 10 states, namely, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and Plateau, could not access their respective matching grants.
The UBEC boss further noted that so far, two states, Kaduna and Katsina, have accessed the first and second quarter matching grants for 2024, while 34 other states are yet to access the matching grants, even though some of them have made significant efforts towards accessing the funds.
He further disclosed that between 2005 and 2023, over N630bn out of over N659bn allocated, were accessed by states, and based on regional performance, the northwest region accessed over N124bn; northcentral accessed over N121bn; northeast accessed over N104bn; South-South got N104bn; south west got N98bn; whille South-East zone got N76bn.
Meanwhile, he announced that the Commission has over N28bn un-accessed funds that accumulated between 2005 to 2017, and added that the Commission also generated, internally, over N22 million and N10 million for 2023 and 2024, respectively.
In response, some of the Senators registered their discontent and observations as regards the intervention activities of the Commission, particularly the issue of poor basic education indices.
Senator Victor Umeh described as a paradox pointing to the fact that the northwest zone seems to have enjoyed 100 per cent UBEC intervention vis-a-vis funds allocation, yet it accounts for the highest number of out-of-school children, as well as poor numeracy and literacy level among children.
He challenged the UBEC management to have rethink in their operational documents so they can pin out the lapses, and take adequate measures to make corrections and improve the indices.
Senator Sunday Marshall, in his submission, demanded immediate action on History as a compulsory subject for the student, stating that otherwise could spell doom for the posterity of Nigeria, as its future generations would be unaware of certain things that transpired that shaped the country, politically, economically, and otherwise.
Some other Senators advocated some legislative work on the UBEC establishment act to enable it take action against states that failed to access their funds as when due.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Lawal Adamu, Usman, in his remarks, said the oversight visit was in compliance with Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to assess the level of compliance with and performance in the full implementation of the 2023/24 Budget vis- à-vis the mandates of the Commission.
“It is always an opportunity to identify any infractions, inefficiency, waste, challenges, as well as commend any achievements, and recommend for the correction of any defect(s) in the existing and other relevant laws.
“For the purpose of this particular visit, the Committee would take a tour of some identified physical intervention projects such as this UBEC ICT Centre, and Smart Schools within the FCT,” he said.