State governments have been urged to adopt pragmatic approaches in fulfilling the requirements needed to access matching grant funds designated for the development of basic education.
This call was part of the resolutions reached at the 26th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) management, which brought together Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). The meeting continued at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State, on Tuesday.
UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba, who issued the charge, described the gathering as more than a routine engagement. She said it was a call to action to address the persistent barriers preventing states from fully accessing available resources. Garba emphasised the need to simplify administrative procedures to deliver meaningful outcomes for schoolchildren across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by the Deputy Director of Basic Education, Joy Onoja, informed participants that significant progress had been made since the previous meeting. This includes steps towards reviewing the Universal Basic Education Act 2024 and the launch of a loan-aid programme worth over $500 million to support the education of millions of Nigerian children.
Dr Alausa reiterated the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to promoting quality basic education as a fundamental right of every child. He stated that the ministry would continue to foster strategic partnerships and implement innovative solutions to transform the education sector.
Garba further noted that the theme of the meeting, “Unassessed and Unutilised UBEC Matching Grant: The Nigerian Child at the Receiving End,” was a direct challenge to all stakeholders. She said it underscored how procedural delays and under-utilisation of funds adversely affect the delivery of essential educational services to the children who need them most.
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