After spending N3.4 billion on primary education in two years, students of Tsakuwa Primary School at Lau Local Government Area in Taraba State were seen learning under a shed, Mawa Foundation, an advocacy organisation focused on accountability, has reported.

Between 2018 and 2021, the Taraba State government approved N5 billion to be spent on the state’s basic education, and N23 billion on education. Despite these allocations, Adamu Garba, a teacher at Tsakuwa Primary School, said they had not been paid salaries since December 2020.

“As you can see through the attached pictures below, that is our condition terms of Primary Education in Taraba State. Not to talk of staff welfare, presently we’re still expecting December 2020 salaries as we’re in July, 2021 hence we have arrears of about 7 months!” Adamu said.

“The state budget breakdown shows that in 2019, education got N8, 355,032,016.80 approval, while 2020 it got N9, 190,535,218.48 estimate and 2021 N10, 109,588,740.33,” Mawa Foundation stated.

Out of Nigeria’s 2020 budget which was set at N10.33 trillion, N691.06 billion which represents 6.7 percent of the budget was allocated to the Federal Ministry of Education. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) receives a statutory transfer of N111.79 billion.

The Universal Basic Education is under the charge of states and local governments who are tasked with delivering a free nine year education that covers primary school and three years of Junior Secondary School education.

The funds are meant to reduce Nigeria’s over 10.1 million out of school children and give them access to basic education.