AdvoKC Hails Senate as Education Bill Raises UBEC Funding to 5%

The AdvoKC Foundation has commended the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for passing a landmark amendment bill that raises statutory funding for basic education from 2 per cent to 5 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and extends free education to senior secondary level.

In a statement signed on Tuesday by its Communications Manager, Luqman Adamu, the organisation described the development as a “historic milestone” that could significantly reshape Nigeria’s education landscape if swiftly concluded and implemented.

AdvoKC said the passage of the bill represents a decisive shift in national education policy, noting that the expansion of the Universal Basic Education framework to include senior secondary schooling directly addresses long-standing gaps that have kept millions of Nigerian children out of school or forced early dropouts.

The group also praised what it called growing alignment between both chambers of the National Assembly, pointing out that the House of Representatives had earlier passed a similar version of the amendment proposing a 4 per cent allocation.

According to AdvoKC, the Senate’s decision to approve a 5 per cent benchmark reflects “remarkable legislative responsiveness” to sustained civic advocacy and the urgent realities facing Nigeria’s basic education system.

Nigeria’s education sector has for years grappled with underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, decaying infrastructure, and high dropout rates; challenges the group said were worsened by the limitations of the existing 2 per cent funding structure under the 2004 Universal Basic Education Act.

“The structural and financial constraints embedded in the old framework have left public schools under-resourced, infrastructure dilapidated, and millions of young learners stranded,” the statement noted.

A major highlight of the amendment is the extension of free and compulsory education through senior secondary school. AdvoKC argued that this reform could significantly reduce dropout rates, especially among girls, who are disproportionately affected by financial and social barriers at the transition point between junior and senior secondary education.

The bill also introduces a new implementation approach that channels intervention funds directly to Local Government Area (LGA) education authorities, a move designed to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve efficiency in school-level funding.

AdvoKC described this decentralised funding structure as a “critical correction” that ensures resources reach classrooms faster, particularly in areas requiring urgent attention such as teacher training, facility rehabilitation, and learning materials.

The organisation further revealed that the legislative breakthrough followed nearly a year of sustained advocacy engagements with key lawmakers across both chambers of the National Assembly.

It recalled engaging the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education Services, Hon. Mark Bako Useni, in September 2025, followed by sustained pressure that helped fast-track committee processes and subsequent deliberations. It also noted engagement with House Majority Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, which contributed to the House passage of its version of the bill in May 2026.

Following the House action, the group said it intensified engagement with Senate leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Sen. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, urging expedited consideration of the proposal.

“This outcome demonstrates that sustained, strategic citizen engagement can break long-standing legislative gridlocks and produce real policy change for the public good,” the statement said.

While welcoming the Senate’s approval, AdvoKC urged swift legislative coordination to finalise the bill. It called on both chambers of the National Assembly to immediately constitute a Conference Committee to harmonise the differences between the Senate’s 5 per cent provision and the House’s 4 per cent version.

“We urge the National Assembly to prioritise harmonisation without delay. Nigerian children cannot afford prolonged legislative bottlenecks on such a critical reform,” the organisation stated.

The group also appealed for speedy transmission of the harmonised bill to the Presidency and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to grant prompt assent once the process is completed.

“Signing this bill into law will represent a powerful commitment to Nigeria’s most vulnerable children and a defining step toward rebuilding confidence in public education,” AdvoKC said.

The AdvoKC Foundation reiterated that while the Senate’s action marks a major victory, the real test lies in timely completion, implementation, and effective delivery at the classroom level across the country.