The Nigeria Government has revealed that 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accessed a total of ₦78.6 billion in Universal Basic Education (UBE) matching grants by mid-2025, representing a 65 per cent increase compared to the figures recorded in January.
The disclosure was made via the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Federal Ministry of Education, which attributed the surge to the implementation of the UBEC 2025–2030 Strategic Blueprint. The revised framework prioritises equity, quality, accountability, and state-specific service delivery in basic education funding.
According to the ministry, the notable rise in fund access is the result of sustained high-level advocacy by both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). These efforts included direct engagement with state governors and the use of data-driven feedback mechanisms that prompted more states to fulfil the counterpart funding requirement necessary to unlock federal grants.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the development as a “clear indication of focused reforms and collaboration.” He commended the states that have complied with the funding process and urged those yet to act to expedite their applications.
“This progress reinforces our commitment to ensuring that every naira invested in basic education delivers meaningful outcomes. We remain dedicated to transparency and effective service delivery in the sector,” Alausa said.
The UBE grants are designed to support key initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s basic education system. These include classroom construction and rehabilitation, procurement of learning materials, teacher training, and other core interventions to enhance learning outcomes nationwide.
In August 2024, the Federal Government increased the statutory allocation for UBE matching grants from approximately ₦1.3 billion to over ₦3.3 billion per state. Under the revised funding model, each state that provides an equal amount in counterpart funding is eligible to access about ₦6.6 billion in total.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with state governments to ensure full access to and efficient utilisation of available funds, in alignment with the strategic goals of the UBE programme.
