A pro-government group has applauded the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for mobilising and disbursing N100 billion in previously unaccessed matching grants to states, despite many state governments failing to contribute the necessary counterpart funding that would have enabled them to access funds for improvements in primary and secondary education.
The Tinubu Media Volunteers (TMV), in a statement by its Chairman, Chukwudi Enekwechi, and Secretary, Segun Ogedengbe, noted that the move was part of efforts to ensure measurable results in basic education under the commission’s 2025 to 2031 strategic blueprint.
The group noted that the UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, had at a press luncheon in Abuja, listed the milestones achieved under the strategic blueprint, including the construction of 4,600 classrooms, renovation of more than 6,100 classrooms, provision of 2,780 toilets, and 678 boreholes, and the supply of 334,000 pieces of school furniture across the country.
TMV said these achievements were being recorded under the Renewed Hope banner of the President Bola Tinubu administration, particularly the mobilisation of previously unaccessed matching grants by the sub-nationals.
According to the statement, unaccessed matching grants are usually counterpart funds the states are supposed to contribute to the federal government’s contribution towards improving basic education in the country. States are typically required to pay a 40% matching fee to access the grants, but over the years, there have been several cases of some states failing in this responsibility.
TMV said it was gratifying that the commission had mobilised as much as N100 billion, under the current administration, describing the funds as critical to helping states deliver on their mandate.
The group added that the UBEC positive outcomes reflect the success of reforms across different sectors under the Tinubu administration, noting that institutional reforms at the commission have strengthened transparency, project monitoring and data-driven decision-making in their activities.
TMV commended the federal government and UBEC for releasing the funds despite the inability of the affected states to fulfil their own side of the bargain, describing the gesture as unprecedented and a milestone in the benevolence of the Tinubu administration in the education sector.
The group added that the decision to release the unaccessed grants reflects the readiness of the Tinubu administration to cater for the education of the future generation of the country.
