A bill seeking to increase funds for the Universal Basic Education Fund (UBEC) from 2 to 4 percent has passed second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill which will amend the UBEC Act, aims to double the funding from the consolidated revenue fund.
Bako Useni, the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, announced this on Thursday, during the committee’s oversight function at the Digital Resource Centre in Abuja, constructed by UBEC.
He further mentioned that the amendment bill, proposed by Hon. Muktar Shagaya to raise the revenue allocated to UBEC was essential to funding education in the country.
“The amendment bill which passed the second reading on Wednesday when concluded will make UBEC stronger. Since UBEC was established in 2004 to date, a lot has been achieved.
“However, the House felt that if UBEC is motivated with more funding, it will go a long way in achieving more of what it has achieved.
“It was on this basis that one of us, Hon. Shagaya proposed an amendment to the UBEC Act to increase its funding from two per cent to four per cent from the consolidated revenue fund,” he said
Expressing satisfaction with the UBEC’s digital resource centre, Useni said it aligned with the committee’s goal of infusing new dimensions into the nation’s basic education sector, adding that the committee will ensure continuous oversight function for the sustainability of the centre.
“We have also assured the centre of our collaboration and support through budget allocations and oversight functions to make sure that whatever funds that are provided are used for the betterment of Nigerians.
“We will continue to visit to monitor the kind of training that is being given to our teachers and other resource persons because it is a centre for Nigeria to develop its education sector,” he said.
