Falana Urges States to Utilise N267bn UBEC Funds for Basic Education

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the governors of all 36 states and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to utilize N267 billion in released intervention funds for basic education. Falana, the Chair of the Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), made the plea in a statement titled "Abandonment of Primary School Education for the Children of the Poor."

He noted that as of August, approximately N267 billion in released intervention funds remained unutilized, while over N65 billion in counterpart funding was yet to be accessed by states. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) disclosed these figures at the opening of a month-long technical capacity-building workshop organized by the World Bank-assisted HOPE-GOV Programme.

The workshop aims to strengthen budget planning and execution for basic education and primary healthcare in the 36 states and FCT. Falana emphasized that despite a Federal High Court ruling on November 28, 2025, that the federal government, all 36 states, and the FCT have a legal obligation to provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education, the funds meant for this purpose remain unutilized or unaccessed.

He called for immediate action from the state governors and the FCT Minister to utilize the available funds and access the remaining N65 billion in counterpart funding. Falana also urged the authorities to respect the right to free and compulsory basic education for every Nigerian child, as guaranteed by the Free, Compulsory Universal Basic Education Act.

Additionally, he called on the Federal Government to provide a daily meal for schoolchildren to improve enrollment and nutrition, aligning with the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act. Falana further urged the mass media to challenge political parties and candidates to include their plans for implementing free and compulsory basic education laws and the school feeding program in their campaigns.

He stressed that with the country's vast resources, the removal of children from the streets in all states must be carried out without further delay.