ABUJA, Nigeria — The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has commenced the verification of 518 schools across Nigeria ahead of a planned N5.18 billion School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme intervention, aimed at ensuring accountability and proper allocation of funds.
The verification exercise, which will begin at the end of June and run into early July, is designed to confirm the existence of nominated schools and assess their infrastructure needs before the release of intervention funds. Mrs Patricia Oche, Head of Community Empowerment and Development in UBEC’s Social Mobilisation Department, explained that the exercise was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.
In April, UBEC unveiled the 2025 SBMC-School Improvement Programme, announcing a total allocation of N5.18 billion for 518 schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with each state expected to benefit from 14 schools under the intervention. States had initially submitted 18 schools each for consideration, but only 14 schools per state and the FCT would eventually qualify in line with the commission’s guidelines.
Oche explained that beneficiary communities would receive the intervention funds in two tranches to ensure proper utilisation. “We give them 75 per cent first and the remaining 25 per cent after monitoring because some of them misuse the money,” she said.
The commission reduced the number of beneficiary schools from 32 per state in previous years to 14 in 2025 to improve the quality and impact of projects. “We want quality, not quantity. The Executive Secretary decided that we should reduce the number of schools and increase the funding so that beneficiaries can execute meaningful projects,” Oche added.
According to UBEC, the intervention will support projects identified by host communities through their School-Based Management Committees, including classrooms, toilets, furniture, roads, bridges and other facilities that improve access to schools.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance school governance at the grassroots level through School-Based Management Committees, ensuring that communities play a stronger role in monitoring and improving education outcomes. The programme is expected to support critical upgrades in school facilities, improve learning environments, and boost overall access to quality basic education across participating states.
UBEC Executive Secretary Dr Aisha Garba had earlier noted that the SBMC-SIP has demonstrated impact as a community-driven initiative, with over 1,112 schools supported nationwide and more than N1.5 billion disbursed in previous cycles. She added that 13,670 projects have been initiated nationwide, many of which are expected to attract over 400,000 children back to school.
The commission also announced the release of N434.5 million as the final tranche for the 2023 and 2024 SBMC-SIP cycles, aimed at completing 11,484 ongoing projects nationwide. As the verification exercise gets underway, the commission remains committed to ensuring that intervention funds reach deserving schools and communities across the country.
