UBEC Disburses N434.5m, Earmarks N5.18b for School Infrastructure

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disbursed N434.5 million as the final tranche of support funds to complete ongoing school projects nationwide.

The funds are under the 2023/2024 School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP).

Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Aisha Garba, disclosed this at the 2025 SBMC-SIP implementation, disbursement and launch of the Learner Retention Programme.

Garba was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Mr Rasaq Akinyemi.

She said the disbursement would support the completion of 11,484 ongoing projects across beneficiary schools in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

She listed some projects, including minor infrastructure rehabilitation, the provision of classroom furniture, and the construction of classrooms and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, aimed at improving learning environments.

Garba said the intervention reflects the federal government’s commitment to strengthening community participation in school governance and improving access to quality basic education.

“The SBMC-SIP remains one of the Commission’s most impactful community-driven interventions. At its core lies a simple, but powerful principle: schools perform better when communities are actively involved in their governance and development.

“Through this programme, communities identify priority needs, participate in project execution, promote accountability, and support enrolment and retention efforts,” she said.

Garba disclosed that since the inception of the SBMC-SIP, UBEC has supported 1,112 schools nationwide, disbursing over N1.5 billion across implementation cycles.

She added that the initiative had facilitated 13,670 completed and ongoing community-driven projects, expected to attract more than 400,000 children back to school.

The UBEC boss announced that under the 2025 SBMC-SIP cycle, a total of N5.18 billion had been earmarked for disbursement to 518 communities nationwide.

She said the funding would benefit 14 schools in each of the 36 states and the FCT, with priority given to underserved communities facing infrastructure deficits.

She emphasised that strict adherence to transparency, accountability and monitoring guidelines would guide implementation, adding that UBEC would collaborate closely with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and community stakeholders.

The executive secretary also announced the launch of the Learner Retention Programme, designed to tackle socio-economic barriers that contribute to school dropout.

She said the programme would target one million learners across eight states in its first phase, with a budget of N5 billion.

Garba stated that the initiative is aimed at encouraging regular school attendance, reducing dropout rates and strengthening parental commitment to children’s education.

Earlier, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening basic education delivery through improved infrastructure, community participation and learner retention.

Alausa said the initiatives demonstrate the administration’s resolve to improve school infrastructure, promote community ownership and ensure that every Nigerian child enrols, remains in school and completes basic education.

He noted that the programmes are anchored on national education frameworks, including the Universal Basic Education Act 2004, the National Policy on Education and federal and state education sector plans.

Alausa said the initiatives would consolidate gains recorded under existing education programmes, such as HOPE-EDU and Better Education Service Delivery for All Additional Financing (BESDA AF).

He described the SBMC-SIP as a strategic platform that empowers SBMCs to take ownership of school development through transparent planning and accountable implementation.

He said the disbursement would enable beneficiary schools to complete critical projects, procure learning materials and undertake rehabilitation works aimed at improving teaching and learning conditions nationwide.