The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to bridging the gap between planning and performance in Nigeria’s basic education sector, with the aim of ensuring access to quality education for every Nigerian child.
Speaking during the 27th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with the Executive Chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), Dr. Garba highlighted the significant reforms already underway in the sector. She noted that while the progress made so far marks a positive shift, it is only the beginning of broader efforts to deliver meaningful and lasting impact.
Among the reforms, she pointed to the revision of the UBEC matching grant formula to encourage data-informed resource allocation, equity, and transparency in the use of funds. She added that 27 out of the 36+1 states had successfully accessed part of the ₦121 billion backlog in matching grants as of 2024, reflecting a 65 per cent increase in access. She also noted improvements in planning tools such as the overhauled Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP), designed to support needs-based implementation strategies.
Dr. Garba said the Commission had expanded basic education infrastructure across the country, resulting in the construction and renovation of thousands of classrooms and the supply of hundreds of thousands of furniture units, directly benefiting over two million learners in 2025. She further highlighted Nigeria’s largest teacher development programme, which attracted a ₦22 billion investment in teacher training to enhance classroom outcomes. Quality assurance monitoring has also been digitised, with hundreds of officers now using real-time digital tools for more efficient oversight.
She concluded by emphasising that these initiatives, while impactful, must be supported by stronger systems of accountability and performance management in order to achieve long-term, sustainable improvements in the sector.
