The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disbursed a total of ₦44.24 billion to 11 states across Nigeria as matching grants aimed at strengthening basic education.
According to official data, the beneficiary states include Kaduna, Ondo, Jigawa, Taraba, Kogi, Plateau, Osun, Zamfara, Bauchi, Sokoto, and Enugu.
The funds are part of UBEC’s intervention programme designed to support the implementation of Universal Basic Education by improving infrastructure and learning conditions in public schools. However, the grants are conditional, requiring each state to contribute a counterpart fund of at least 50 percent before accessing the money.
Breakdown of the disbursement shows that most states, including Ondo, Kogi, Plateau, Osun, Bauchi, Sokoto, Enugu, and Jigawa, received about ₦3.55 billion each, while Kaduna received ₦5.33 billion and Taraba got ₦7.10 billion.
The funds released between January and March 2026 cover allocations for the 2025 fiscal year, with some states receiving backdated funds from previous periods.
UBEC reiterated that any state that fails to utilise the funds within a specified timeframe risks having the allocation withdrawn, stressing the importance of timely execution of education projects.
The development comes amid ongoing concerns that large amounts of UBEC funds remain unutilised by states, despite the urgent need to improve school infrastructure and reduce the number of out-of-school children across the country.
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