The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that unaccessed matching grants previously owed to states have reduced from over ₦260 billion to ₦26 billion following reforms introduced to improve access to and utilisation of basic education resources.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, disclosed this on Thursday during an interactive session with members of the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja.
Garba said more than 90 per cent of the accumulated funds had now been accessed by states following the review of the matching grant guidelines and the flexibility granted to states in developing their Basic Education Action Plans.
She explained that the accumulated funds had remained unaccessed over the years because states faced challenges in meeting the previous requirements for accessing the grants.
“Over the years, states were not coming to access the 50 per cent due to them, and because of that, more than ₦260 billion was sitting accumulated in the account, waiting for states to come. Under this administration, we took strategic steps and reviewed the matching grant guidelines to give states more flexibility,” she said.
The UBEC boss said the commission also revised the Basic Education Action Plan, which had remained unchanged for about two decades, to reflect current realities and enable states to address their specific education challenges.
“Twenty years ago, the challenges in basic education were different from what we have today. The previous formula was one-size-fits-all, but the challenges in Kano are not the same as those in Lagos or Ekiti. We changed it so that states can use the funds to address their peculiar needs,” she added.
Garba said the reforms had enabled states to access more than ₦100 billion in matching grants, with only ₦26 billion remaining unaccessed.
“One of our most significant achievements has been facilitating the mobilisation of over ₦100 billion in previously unaccessed matching grants by states and the Federal Capital Territory. These resources are now being invested in improving learning environments across the country,” she stated.
She said the accessed funds had contributed to the construction of more than 4,600 classrooms, the renovation of over 6,100 dilapidated classrooms, the provision of 2,780 toilets, 678 boreholes and more than 334,000 pieces of school furniture.
According to her, UBEC’s assessment revealed that more than 40 per cent of existing basic education infrastructure across the country was in poor condition before the reforms.
She added that the commission had introduced new minimum standards for school construction, including perimeter fencing, adequate sanitation facilities, solar power solutions and improved learning environments.
On teacher development, the UBEC Executive Secretary said the commission had invested more than ₦20.4 billion in professional training programmes aimed at improving teaching quality and learning outcomes.
She noted that nearly one million teachers had benefited from targeted training programmes implemented through UBEC and the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
Garba stressed that improving access alone was not enough without addressing the quality of learning, noting that teacher capacity remained central to transforming basic education.
“We recognise that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. It is not just about constructing classrooms; the most important person in a child’s learning journey is the teacher,” she said.
She added that UBEC was also strengthening school leadership and School-Based Management Committees to improve accountability and community participation in schools.
The UBEC boss further disclosed that the commission had distributed more than 7.8 million instructional materials, including textbooks, school bags and other learning resources, particularly to disadvantaged communities nationwide.
She said UBEC was expanding Digital Literacy Centres, Smart Schools and technology-driven learning initiatives, including exposure to artificial intelligence, coding and robotics, to prepare learners for a digital future.
Garba explained that the initiative would help bridge the digital divide, especially as national examinations increasingly transition to computer-based testing.
She also highlighted UBEC’s interventions to expand access through Open Schooling, Integrated Qur’anic and Tsangaya Education, girl-child education and inclusive education programmes.
The Executive Secretary urged the media to continue partnering with the commission by providing balanced and constructive reporting that highlights both progress and challenges in the basic education sector.
“Education is a shared responsibility. Government can provide leadership and resources, but lasting transformation requires the collective commitment of communities, teachers, parents, development partners and the media,” she said.
Garba reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to building a resilient and future-ready basic education system where every Nigerian child has access to safe, inclusive and quality learning opportunities.
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