FG says 27 states and FCT accessed ₦78.6bn in UBE grants, marking 65% rise since January.
New funding formula and high-level advocacy drive progress in boosting basic education nationwide.
The Federal Government has announced that 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory have collectively accessed ₦78.6 billion in Universal Basic Education (UBE) matching grants as of mid‑2025, a significant 65% increase from figures reported in January.
This update was disclosed on Tuesday via the official X (Twitter) handle of the Federal Ministry of Education, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen basic education nationwide.
According to the ministry, the uptick in accessed funds is primarily attributed to the implementation of the UBEC 2025–2030 Strategic Blueprint, which introduced a revised matching grant formula. The new approach emphasizes equity, quality, accountability, and state-specific service delivery in the disbursement and utilization of funds.
“FG records major success as ₦78.6 billion in UBE Matching Grants accessed by 27 states & FCT by mid‑2025, a 65% surge from January,” the ministry stated, adding that the increase followed high-level advocacy initiatives led by both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
These advocacy efforts reportedly included direct engagement with state governors, as well as data-driven feedback mechanisms that encouraged more states to fulfill their counterpart funding obligations.
Commenting on the achievement, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, praised the progress as a result of “focused reforms and collaboration.” He urged states that are yet to access their grants to act swiftly, emphasizing that such funds are essential to improving education outcomes across the country.
As part of the new funding structure, the federal statutory allocation for UBE grants per state has increased from approximately ₦1.3 billion to over ₦3.3 billion. When matched with state counterpart contributions, the total pool available per state is now around ₦6.6 billion.
The matching grants are designed to support critical education projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, the provision of learning materials, teacher training, and other key interventions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s basic education system.
The ministry also highlighted that as of mid‑2024, several states had not yet accessed their 2023 allocations, estimated at ₦1.4 billion per state, and warned of potential delays in vital infrastructure and service delivery if those funds remain untapped.
