The Federal Government has proposed a total allocation of N441,923,867,349 for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in the 2026 fiscal year. The funding is intended to cover the commission’s overall operations throughout the year.
A breakdown of the allocation shows that N427,818,822,774, representing 97.3 per cent, is designated for personnel costs, primarily workers’ salaries. In contrast, only N12,105,400,575, or 2.7 per cent, is set aside for capital projects. These figures are contained in the summary of the N58.18 trillion Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
The 2,790-page budget document, compiled by the Budget Office of the Federation, outlines detailed allocations for all federal ministries, departments, and agencies, including UBEC.
According to the document, all projects listed under UBEC are ongoing, indicating that they were initiated in the previous fiscal year. The single largest capital allocation, amounting to N2.8 billion, is earmarked for the construction and furnishing of one block of six classrooms in senatorial districts nationwide.
No other individual project in the document attracts funding of up to N1 billion. Among projects with relatively higher allocations of N700 million are the distribution of instructional materials to schools across the country’s senatorial districts; the construction of classroom blocks in nine local government areas within Borno South senatorial district; and the building and furnishing of two-storey blocks comprising three classrooms with toilet facilities in Kato and other selected locations.
Another project with nationwide coverage involves the construction of four classroom blocks across the six geopolitical zones, with a total allocation of N490 million.
Other lower-funded projects are largely centered on renovating school structures and supplying furniture such as chairs and lockers, as well as instructional materials.
However, certain items in the budget appear unclear or seemingly outside UBEC’s core mandate. These include the provision and installation of three-in-one solar streetlights in various communities—rather than schools—in Plateau North senatorial district at a cost of N70 million; solar streetlight installations in Oke Omititi Ago Wande and other communities in Osun State costing N18.9 million; and similar installations in Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency valued at N28 million.
Additional allocations that raise questions include N12.2 million for the supply of laptops to higher institutions in Gudutangaza Federal Constituency, Sokoto State; N32.7 million as financial assistance to tertiary institution students in Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Cross River State; and N175 million earmarked for educational development in various unspecified schools in Lagos East senatorial district.
UBEC, as a federal agency, is mandated to coordinate and implement education programmes at the primary and junior secondary school levels, with the objective of providing free and quality basic education to Nigerian children. The commission works in partnership with state governments through their respective Universal Basic Education Boards to reduce illiteracy, alleviate poverty, and promote national development.
