EXCLUSIVE: Imo, Ogun Lead As 21 States, FCT Fail To Access N97Billion Federal Education Grants –UBEC Data
The data, covering 2021 to March 2026, reveals persistent failure among 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory to meet the conditions required to draw down federal matching grants, leaving millions of children without the full benefits of public education programs.
Billions of naira allocated to support basic education across Nigeria have remained un-accessed by state governments, according to information released by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) following a Freedom of Information request by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN).
The data, covering 2021 to March 2026, reveals persistent failure among 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory to meet the conditions required to draw down federal matching grants, leaving millions of children without the full benefits of public education programs.
According to the disclosure, Imo State emerged as the most affected, leaving a cumulative total of ₦10.656 billion un-accessed, highlighting a significant shortfall in utilizing federal education funds.
Other states also failed to access substantial allocations: Abia State left ₦7.109 billion unutilized; Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, and Anambra states each failed to access ₦3.554 billion. Bayelsa and Cross River states also did not access ₦3.554 billion each, while Ebonyi left ₦3.554 billion unused. Edo State failed to access ₦3.555 billion, Enugu ₦3.609 billion, and Gombe ₦1.876 billion.
Kano State left ₦1.876 billion unutilized, while Kebbi State failed to access ₦3.554 billion. Kogi also did not draw down ₦3.554 billion, and Kwara left ₦197.6 million un-accessed. Lagos and Nasarawa states each failed to access ₦3.554 billion. Niger State also failed to access ₦7.109 billion, Ogun State ₦9.709 billion, Oyo State ₦7.109 billion, while Rivers State stood at ₦7.809 billion.
Zamfara State failed to access ₦197.6 million, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) did not access ₦5.077 billion.
Several states, however, accessed all their federal allocations, namely Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Delta, Ondo, Yobe, Taraba, Sokoto, Plateau, Osun, Enugu and Kogi showing full compliance with grant conditions as at March 18, 2026.
The inability of many states to access these grants is tied to the requirements of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act. Under the law, the federal government provides block grants to UBEC to support free and mandatory basic education for children of primary and junior secondary school age. States are required to provide a matching contribution before federal funds can be accessed.
UBEC data indicates that some state authorities have failed to provide matching grants, preventing them from utilizing federal allocations intended to improve school infrastructure, teaching quality, and learning conditions.
The backlog of un-accessed funds highlights a significant gap between policy and implementation.
Millions of Nigerian children continue to be denied improvements these grants could provide. Despite legal frameworks affirming the right to free and compulsory education, including the Child Rights Act and the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, noncompliance by state authorities has created persistent obstacles to nationwide access to quality education.
On the reason for the FOI request, Falana stated: “As of March 2026, the authorities of many state governments and the Federal Capital Territory have refused to access over N97 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission Fund.
“Apart from not accessing the UBE matching grant, some state governments have failed to properly utilise the funds for the purpose of development of infrastructure and improvement of the teaching and learning conditions in primary and junior secondary schools across the country.
“In spite of several judgments of the ECOWAS Court and the Federal High Court, which have upheld the right of every Nigerian child to mandatory and free universal basic education, Nigeria has about 20 million out-of-school children. The members of the ruling class have consigned the children of poor citizens to illiteracy and ignorance.
“In addressing the crisis, we were compelled to request the Universal Basic Education Commission to furnish us with information on the compliance of state governments with the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act.”
Nigeria already has 18.5 million out-of-school children, making the failure to access federal education funds particularly concerning.
