The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has linked states’ inability to access about N68 billion in intervention funds to systemic inefficiencies and the continued use of outdated work plan templates that have been in place for over a decade.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, disclosed this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday at a training workshop for South-South States Universal Basic Education Board Directors and Desk Officers of Physical Planning.
Garba, represented by her Special Assistant, Ibrahim Gold, explained that the commission had revised the Basic Education Action Plan template to eliminate bottlenecks and improve accountability in accessing the funds. She noted that the new template, officially launched in Makurdi on May 25, 2025, was designed to simplify procedures for states to access grants, including matching grants, teacher development support, and special needs allocations.
“This capacity-building workshop aligns with our ongoing reforms, particularly in developing work plans to access the UBE Intervention Funds. The goal is to have one unified work plan for the various funding streams, replacing the old template that has been in use for over twenty years,” she stated.
The UBEC boss lamented that the failure of states to meet basic requirements had left billions of naira unused, even as public schools continue to face inadequate facilities and poor learning outcomes.
In their remarks, UBEC Director of Physical Planning, Sadiq Saiad, and the Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom SUBEB, Dr. Aniette Etuk, urged participants to take the training seriously, stressing that effective application of the new tools would improve access to intervention funds.
The commission added that a similar training conducted earlier in the year for northern states in Kano had recorded positive results and expressed optimism that the South-South region would also ensure better compliance.
