The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that while States in the Northwest geopolitical zone have an impressive record of accessing 100% of the UBEC intervention funds over the years, compared with 85.37% by Southeast States, the Northwest ironically lacks far behind in school enrollment stats, “boasting” the highest number of out-of-school children, as well as the highest poor numeracy and literacy level among its children in relation to other zones.
Other rates of access to the education intervention funds by zone include South-South States – 97.92 %; North Central – 97.76%; North East – 97.57 % and South West 92.28 %.
These records were contained in a presentation made by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobbyi, during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, in Abuja, on Monday (today, November 18).
In the presentation, the UBEC boss stated that in 2020, 34 States and the FCT accessed their respective matching grants, while two states, Abia and Ogun States, failed to access theirs.
Similarly, in 2021, 33 States and the FCT successfully accessed their respective matching grants, while Abia, Ogun and Imo States failed to access theirs.
He disclosed that in 2022, the number of States accessing their matching grants reduced to 29 States and the FCT leaving seven states, namely, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Ogun, and Oyo, unable (or unwilling) to access theirs.
The number further reduced in 2023 as 25 States accessed the first to fourth matching grant. But one state, Rivers, accessed only first and second matching grants, while 10 states, namely, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and Plateau, could not access their respective matching grants.
The UBEC boss further noted that so far, two states, Kaduna and Katsina, have accessed the first and second quarter matching grants for 2024, while 34 other States are yet to access the matching grants even though some of them have made significant efforts towards accessing the funds.
He further disclosed that between 2005 and 2023, over N630bn out of over N659bn allocated under the UBEC intervention funds as accessed by States, and based on regional performance, the Northwest region accessed over N124bn; Northcentral accessed over N121bn; Northeast accessed over N104bn; South South got N104bn; South West got N98bn while the South East zone got N76bn.
In the meantime, Bobbyi  has disclosed that the Commission has over N28bn un-accessed funds that accumulated between 2005 and 2017, adding that the Commission also generated, internally, over N22 million and N10 million for 2023 and 2024, respectively.
In response, some of the Senators registered their discontent and observations as regards the intervention activities of the Commission, particularly the issue of poor basic education indices.
Senator Victor Umeh described as paradox, the fact that the Northwest zone seems to have enjoyed 100 per cent UBEC intervention vis-a-vis funds allocation, yet, accounts for the highest number of out-of-school children, as well as poor numeracy and literacy level among children.
He challenged the UBEC management to rethink their operational documents so they can pin out the lapses, and take adequate measures to make corrections and improve the indices.
Some other Senators advocated some legislative work on the UBEC establishment act to enable it to take action against states that fail to access their funds as at when due.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Lawal Adamu, Usman, in his remarks, said the oversight visit was in compliance with section 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to assess the level of compliance with and performance in the full implementation of the 2023/24 Budget vis- Ã -vis the mandates of the Commission.
“It is always an opportunity to identify any infractions, inefficiency, waste, challenges, as well as commend any achievements, and recommend for the correction of any defect(s) in the existing and other relevant laws.
“For the purpose of this particular visit, the Committee would take a tour of some identified physical intervention projects such as this UBEC ICT Centre, and Smart Schools within the FCT,” he said.
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