By Abdullahi Jalaluddeen
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has urged states to strengthen financial accountability and ensure effective utilisation of education funds to improve the quality of basic education in the country.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, made the call at a regional thematic workshop on Results Area 3 of the HOPE-EDU Programme in Kano .
Garba, represented by the Deputy Director of Social Mobilisation, Mal. Sahabo Basa, said effective decentralised financial management was essential to ensuring that resources reached schools on time and were used for their intended purposes.
She said the workshop focused on Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) 6 and 7, covering decentralised financial management and annual school grants for public primary schools.
According to her, the introduction of annual school grants will enable school managers to address immediate challenges, including minor renovations and improvements to the school environment.
She said the initiative would also promote timely decision-making at the school level and create safer and more conducive learning environments for pupils.
Garba, however, identified timely release of funds, access to counterpart funding, inadequate capacity in financial management and procurement, and the need for clear regulations as possible challenges to implementation.
She urged participants to use the workshop to identify practical solutions and develop state-specific action plans for effective implementation of the programme.
“Every Nigerian child deserves quality basic education, and that depends on how well resources reach schools and are used there,” she said.
The executive secretary reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to providing technical guidance and coordinating with state governments and development partners to achieve the objectives of the programme.
Earlier, the HOPE-EDU Programme Manager, Mr Mayowa Aleshin, said the workshop was organised to prepare state officials for the implementation of Results Area 3 and strengthen their capacity to deliver on DLIs 6 and 7.
Aleshin said the programme became effective on Feb. 27, 2026, adding that the focus had shifted from planning to implementation.
He said the workshop brought together officials from North-East and North-West states to clarify their responsibilities and strengthen readiness for implementing the two indicators.
According to him, DLI 6 covers core UBEC funds managed at decentralised levels, while DLI 7 focuses on public primary schools using annual school grants.
Aleshin said the workshop would align responsibilities among Directors of Finance and Accounts, Social Mobilisation, Procurement and other designated officers responsible for implementing the programme.
He urged participants to engage actively in the sessions, share experiences and draw on the expertise of resource persons to develop practical solutions to implementation challenges.
“The success of the implementation of the DLIs rests on your shoulders,” he said, urging the state focal officers to demonstrate commitment throughout the workshop.
Aleshin added that the DLI 7 workshop would hold from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30, with relevant finance, social mobilisation and environmental and social safeguard officers expected to participate.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would strengthen implementation of the HOPE-EDU Programme and improve access to quality basic education across participating states.
Editing by Khadija Kubau
