The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, says it will soon disburse 142.6 billion Naira to states and the Federal Capital Territory for the development of needed facilities in public primary and junior secondary schools across the country.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hamid Bobboyi, in a news briefing, said 50 percent of the money is sourced from deductions from the state’s share of the Paris Club Refund and the other half is the marching grant for UBEC.
The sliding standard of Nigeria’s basic education remains a source of concern.
The government, however, said it is not unaware of the situation and is not happy with states which have not made effort to access their funds with UBEC especially the South East states since 2014.
States are to contribute 50 percent before they can access their funds, but many have been unable to meet their obligation leaving government to use the Paris Club Refund to assists all states of the federation.
Government is also to set up a monitoring team to follow up on prompt implementation of projects by states. Two percent of the money will be allocated for teacher development.
Although private schools posed a challenge, the government said it has successfully conducted a head count of teachers and pupils in primary and secondary schools across the country, it promised to present an accurate figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria while expressing concern that Nigeria leads in out-of-school children.
