Plan International Nigeria has blamed persistent funding gaps and poor implementation of basic education policies for Nigeria’s rising number of out-of-school children.
The organisation said weak compliance with counterpart funding requirements under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme has left billions of naira in federal matching grants unaccessed by states.
Country Director Charles Usie disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, saying 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states failed to access UBEC matching grants in 2024.
He added that only N21 billion out of N51.6 billion allocated for basic education interventions in 2023 was accessed by 16 states, representing about 41% utilisation.
“This shows a systemic failure in counterpart funding obligations and implementation,” Usie said. “More than two decades after the UBE law was passed, access, infrastructure, and learning outcomes remain inadequate.”
Usie warned that insecurity, poverty, teacher shortages, and weak infrastructure continue to widen inequality in the education sector, particularly affecting girls and vulnerable children.
He also noted that constitutional limitations hinder enforcement of education rights in Nigeria.
“Section 6(6)(c) of the Constitution makes the right to education non-justiciable, meaning citizens cannot compel government to deliver it,” he said.
Plan International urged stronger federal and state action, including increased education funding, stricter enforcement of counterpart obligations, and improved infrastructure in public schools.
The group also called for targeted support for girls’ education, including menstrual hygiene facilities in schools, and greater accountability from all levels of government.
It urged the National Assembly, state governments, development partners, civil society groups, and the media to take urgent and sustained action to address the crisis.
