₦966.9bn for universities, ₦633.2bn for parastatals, ₦257.8bn for the ministry, ₦256bn for polytechnics, ₦125.9bn for colleges, ₦155.3bn for unity schools, and ₦3.3bn for UNESCO
Abuja: The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education has tasked Minister Dr Tunji Alausa with ensuring transparent and accountable use of the ₦2.39 trillion allocated to the education sector in the 2026 budget, warning agencies against violations of federal character and extra-budgetary spending.
The joint committee, which gave the charge at a budget defence session in Abuja, also urged all heads of agencies in the sector—including regulatory, service, and oversight agencies—to strictly adhere to the principles of federal character in admissions, recruitment, and other areas.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), said that officials should ensure that admissions, recruitment, and other areas reflect federal character principles.
Fulata said that several agencies, such as the National Youth Service Corps and the Federal Civil Service Commission, were in violation of constitutional provisions on federal character, calling for a halt to such violations.
The lawmaker also cautioned agencies responsible for managing educational funds, such as university bursaries and directorates, against spending generated revenue without the National Assembly’s approval.
According to him, such practices amount to extra-budgetary spending, which he terms a gracious financial crime in the country.
“It is not proper for heads of government institutions to spend internally-generated revenue anyhow they want without recourse to the National Assembly,” Fulata said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, described budget defence as a legislative mechanism to ensure effective implementation.
He said the committee would conduct a strict oversight visit to ensure that the budgetary allocation met Nigerians’ aspirations.
Earlier, the Minister of Education said that the total sum of N2.39 had been earmarked for the sector in the 2026 budget.
He said the N257.8 billion is for the Federal Ministry of Education, while N633.2 billion is for parastatals under the ministry.
The minister said that federal polytechnics got N256 billion while federal colleges of education received N125.9 billion.
He said that N966.9 billion was earmarked for universities, while unity schools received N155.3 billion, with UNESCO Paris receiving N3.3 billion.
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