Abuja | July 30, 2025
The Federal Government has revealed that 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accessed a total of ₦78.6 billion in matching grants under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme as of mid-2025.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. He noted that the disbursement represents a significant milestone in the government’s drive to improve access to quality basic education across the country.
According to Dr. Bobboyi, the funds accessed were matched by counterpart funding from the benefiting states and are being deployed to upgrade infrastructure, supply learning materials, train teachers, and support other critical aspects of basic education delivery.
He emphasized that states must meet specific requirements — including payment of counterpart funds and submission of action plans — to access their share of the annual grants. He commended the 27 compliant states and FCT for demonstrating commitment to education development.
“By mid-2025, we recorded an uptake of ₦78.6 billion in UBE matching grants by 27 states and the FCT,” Bobboyi stated. “This funding is essential in reducing the burden of dilapidated classrooms and improving learning outcomes at the foundational level.”
The Executive Secretary expressed concern over the few states yet to access the grants, urging them to fulfill the necessary conditions so that their pupils do not miss out on the benefits of the intervention.
He also disclosed that the Commission is intensifying efforts to ensure transparency, monitoring, and evaluation of how the funds are being utilized in the states.
The UBE programme, launched in 1999, aims to provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education for all children of school age in Nigeria. It is jointly funded by the Federal Government and state governments through matching grants disbursed annually by UBEC.
