The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has released N434.5 million as the final tranche of support funds to complete ongoing school projects across Nigeria. This disbursement falls under the 2023/2024 School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP).
Disbursement Details
Dr. Aisha Garba, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, announced the funding during the 2025 SBMC-SIP implementation, disbursement, and launch of the Learner Retention Programme. Represented by Mr. Rasaq Akinyemi, the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), she confirmed that the funds would support the completion of 11,484 ongoing projects in beneficiary schools across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The projects include minor infrastructure rehabilitation, provision of classroom furniture, construction of new classrooms, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities. These improvements aim to enhance learning environments nationwide.
Community Participation
Garba emphasized that 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," she said.
Since the inception of the SBMC-SIP, UBEC has supported 1,112 schools nationwide, disbursing over N1.5 billion across implementation cycles. The initiative has facilitated 13,670 completed and ongoing community-driven projects, expected to attract more than 400,000 children back to school.
2025 Funding Cycle
Under the 2025 SBMC-SIP cycle, a total of N5.18 billion has been earmarked for disbursement to 518 communities nationwide. This funding will benefit 14 schools in each of the 36 states and the FCT, with priority given to underserved communities facing infrastructure deficits. Garba stressed that strict adherence to transparency, accountability, and monitoring guidelines would guide implementation, with close collaboration between UBEC, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), and community stakeholders.
Learner Retention Programme
Garba also announced the launch of the Learner Retention Programme, designed to tackle socio-economic barriers that contribute to school dropout. The programme will target one million learners across eight states in its first phase, with a budget of N5 billion. The initiative aims to encourage regular school attendance, reduce dropout rates, and strengthen parental commitment to children's education.
Ministerial Support
Earlier, the 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. He stated that these 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.
Alausa 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. He added that 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. The disbursement will enable beneficiary schools to complete critical projects, procure learning materials, and undertake rehabilitation works aimed at improving teaching and learning conditions nationwide.
