The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) on Wednesday disclosed that over N46.2 billion matching grant has not been accessed by some state governments for the purpose of development of infrastructure in public primary and junior secondary schools.
Acting Executive Secretary of UBEC, Professor Bala Zakari, stated this during an oversight visit to the Commission by the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education in Abuja.
He also disclosed the sum of N15.6 billion was approved for constituency projects in 2022, noting that the Commission was able to achieve about 95 per cent implementation of the projects which formed part of capital project of UBEC.
He said: “As as Commission we do not have capital project. Meanwhile, we use Constituency projects as our capital project. In 2022 the sum of N15.6 appropriated by the National Assembly as Constituency and rural intervention project.”
Presenting the 2022 capital budget implementation report, Zakari said a total sum of N162, 284, 117,592 was allocated to the states as Universal Basic Education (UBE) grants between 2019 and 2022 while N116,072,964,294.33 was accessed by 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT.)
He said, “The sum of N46,211,153,298.63 is the total of un-accessed UBE matching grants as at 30th April, 2023 by the 36 states and the FCT.
“Between 2019 and 2022, the sum of N162, 284, 117,592 was allocated to the states being UBE grants. As at 30th April 2023, the sum of N116,072,964,294.33 was accessed by 36 states and the FCT, Abuja, representing 71.52 percent as at 30th April, 2023.”
He explained that as at the time of reporting, only 11 states had accessed 2022 matching grant fund because it was barely over four months into the year, noting that by law, the matching grant for 2022 can only be accessed in 2023.
Speaking on the levels of UBE matching grant accessed by states, he said in 2019, 35 states and FCT accessed 2019 allocatoon, with one state – Anambra yet to access the grant as of 30th April, 2023.
On the 2020 matching grant, he said,” 30 states and FCT have accessed matching grant. Six states namely; Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Kwara and Ogun are yet to access 2020 UBE matching grant as at 30th April, 2023.
“29 states have accessed 2022 matching grant projects, seven states and FCT are yet to access 2022 UBE matching grant as at 30th April 2023.
“In 2022 matching grants, 11 states namely; Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Ondo, Taraba and Zamfara have accessed 2021 UBE matching grant. Twenty five states and FCT are yet to accessed 2022 UBE matching grant as at 30th April, 2023.”
Earlier, the chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, said it was important to ensure that money released by the government is use for the purpose it was released.
Gaidam who was represented by the vice chairman of the Committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said the visit was to also confirm the implementation of the 2022 budget of the commission and proposal for 2023.
The committee stressed the need for state governors to key into UBEC projects by accessing its fund in order to shore up the nation’s basic education sector.
Gaidam commended UBEC for always maintaining up-to-date records and the good work the Commission is doing while encouraging the management of UBEC to continue in the light towards ensuring better development of basic education in Nigeria.
He noted that the 9th National Assembly would be exiting in few weeks, calling on the Commission to extend the same cordial working relationship enjoyed to the 10th National Assembly, stressing that basic education is key and bedrock for any quality education to be achieved in the country and as such requires support of the National Assembly.
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