The UBE Act Failed? Inside Nigeria’s Growing Out-of-School Children Crisis
Plan International Nigeria has blamed the rising number of out-of-school children in the country on the poor implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act by state governments more than 20 years after it was enacted. The organisation revealed that 27 states failed to provide counterpart funding for basic education, while only 16 states accessed federal matching grants in 2023.
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Nigeria’s Education Crisis Deepens as States Fail to Implement UBE Act — Plan International
More than two decades after Nigeria enacted the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act, millions of children remain out of school, raising serious concerns about the country’s commitment to free and compulsory education.
This alarming reality was highlighted by Plan International Nigeria, which blamed the persistent rise in out-of-school children on the failure of many state governments to fully implement the UBE Act.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Charles Usie, said the law, passed in 2004, was designed to guarantee free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school. However, he noted that poor implementation and inadequate funding have continued to undermine its objectives.
According to Dr. Usie, Nigeria currently has between 18.5 million and 20 million out-of-school children — a significant increase from the estimated five million children who were out of school when the UBE Act was introduced in 2004.
He described the situation as evidence of deep implementation failures, stressing that the country has not achieved the law’s primary goal of ensuring universal access to education.
The organisation cited the 2024 report of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), which revealed that 27 out of Nigeria’s 36 states failed to provide the counterpart funding required under the UBE framework.
The report further showed that only N21 billion out of the N51.6 billion allocated by the Federal Government as matching grants for basic education in 2023 was accessed by just 16 states. This represents only 41 percent of the appropriated funds.
Plan International Nigeria identified inadequate funding, poor compliance with counterpart funding obligations, infrastructure deficits, teacher shortages, and insufficient attention to girls’ welfare in schools as major obstacles affecting the education sector.
Dr. Usie argued that the current two percent allocation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to basic education is no longer sufficient considering Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and increasing number of school-age children.
He also linked the education crisis to constitutional and policy challenges, including the non-justiciability of the right to education under the Nigerian Constitution and weak enforcement of existing education laws and policies.
To address the growing crisis, Plan International Nigeria called on the Federal Government to increase the allocation to UBEC from two percent to five percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The organisation also urged lawmakers to amend the UBE Act to strengthen penalties for parents who fail to comply with compulsory education provisions. Suggested sanctions include fines and community service.
In addition, the group recommended expanding compulsory education to include senior secondary, vocational, and special education.
Recognizing the financial challenges faced by some states, Plan International Nigeria proposed a more flexible counterpart funding arrangement that would allow more states to access federal matching grants through phased funding mechanisms.
Focus on Girls’ Education
The organization also emphasized the importance of supporting girls in schools by establishing menstrual hygiene stations and providing dignity kits to improve attendance and retention.
Plan International Nigeria backed ongoing efforts at the National Assembly to move the right to education from Chapter Two to Chapter Four of the Nigerian Constitution, a move that would make education an enforceable fundamental right.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Programme Quality and Influencing, Dr. Helen Idiong, stressed that governments at all levels must prioritize education if Nigeria hopes to tackle corruption, insecurity, and other social problems.
She argued that ensuring every child has access to education — from primary to senior secondary level — is essential for national development and long-term stability.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, stakeholders say urgent reforms, stronger political will, and increased investment in education are critical to reversing the trend.
