The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has called on state governments across Nigeria to ensure the effective utilisation of education funds and the timely implementation of approved programmes to strengthen the delivery of basic education.
The appeal was made during a courtesy visit to the Delta State Government in Asaba as part of the 30th quarterly meeting between UBEC management and Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
Speaking at the meeting, which focused on repositioning basic education to optimise investments and impact, UBEC stressed the need for states to translate available resources into visible improvements in classrooms and learning outcomes.
The commission commended Delta State for consistently accessing its Universal Basic Education matching grants up to 2025 and encouraged the state to take advantage of the World Bank-supported HOPE Education Programme, which has earmarked up to $500 million for education development.
UBEC noted that states seeking to benefit from the programme must access their 2026 matching grants and implement at least 50 per cent of their 2025 Action Plans.
Responding on behalf of the Delta State Government, Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme disclosed that the state had significantly reduced the amount of unutilised education funds. According to him, updated records showed that Delta currently has about N1 billion in unutilised funds, contrary to earlier reports suggesting N8 billion.
He added that the state had implemented approximately 90 per cent of its 2025 Action Plan and had already accessed its 2026 matching grant.
The commission also highlighted Delta State’s technology-driven teacher attendance monitoring system, Attend360, describing it as an innovation capable of improving accountability and enhancing teaching quality nationwide.
UBEC officials emphasised that quality education depends heavily on teacher presence and commitment in classrooms, stressing that investments in education would only achieve their objectives when learners benefit directly.
During a separate visit to the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, the commission underscored the importance of stronger collaboration with traditional institutions in advancing educational development.
Azinge described basic education as the foundation of national development and urged stakeholders to ensure that every child, including those with disabilities and disadvantaged backgrounds, has access to quality learning opportunities.
UBEC reiterated its commitment to working closely with state governments to ensure that education investments produce measurable improvements in schools and learning environments across the country.
