Thread by @toluogunlesi

Something interesting happened last year, re basic educ in Nigeria. PMB approved deductions of States’ outstanding contributions to UBEC, from Paris Club Refunds: N71.3bn. That allowed States to unlock matching grants amounting to another N71.3bn, making total of N142.6bn
#Thread

So you know how UBEC works. It’s a Federal Fund for States to tap into, to support basic education (Public Primary and JSS) - which is a State responsibility, as you know. For States to access 100% UBEC money they have to put forward 50% as their own contributions.

What happens is that most States struggle to fulfill their side of the commitment. So you have tens of billions lying in UBEC un-utilised while our public schools nationwide are in perpetual state of krinkum-krankum. A real tragedy. And people will be abusing FG on top Basic Educ

So, you know about the Paris Club Refunds right. A couple billion dollars owed States (miscalculated debt relief monies) and Inherited from the Obasanjo era. Unpaid for years until this administration decided to sort it out, starting I think in 2016/17.

So PMB in 2018 approved deductions of States UBEC outstandings (to clear arrears till end-2017) from Paris Club Refunds. Great move for Basic Educ in Nigeria.

That’s why this UBEC spreadsheet shows only 6 States have outstanding contributions for 2017. 30 States & FCT have ZERO.

In other words, that move to deduct the outstandings accruing till end 2017 ZEROED their UBEC debts (not sure why 6 States left out).

But Look at the doc again. The outstandings have since piled up again, in 2018 and 2019. That’s EDUCATION money sitting on the table, unlocked.

Let me go back to the first tweet. It’s now up to each and every person to find out what their State did with the UBEC monies received. 142 BILLIONS OF NAIRA for States to fix basic education. I believe all/most of the money has since been released. google.com/amp/s/punchng.…