Niger State government has allocated N18 billion to education in the last five years but only released N2.9 billion, representing 16.1 percent.
The allocation was made by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello administration from 2017 to 2021.
This was revealed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed this at a three-day media dialogue on Girls’ education.
It decried a decline in the allocation of funds to education as a proportion of the total state budget in Niger.
In his presentation on Niger State Ministry of Education Budget Performance, Education Officer, UNICEF Field Office Kaduna, Mr Francis Elisha, disclosed that in 2017, N5 billion was allocated to education and only N1.7 billion (35%) was released, representing 35 percent.
He said in 2018, about N5.4 billion was allocated and only N439 million (0.8%) was released; while in 2019, about N3.1 billion was allocated and only N199.8 million (0.6%) was released.
The official said in 2020, about N426 million was allocated to the sector and only about N55.4 million (0.13%) was released; while in 2021, N4 billion was allocated with only about N591.5 million (0.15%) released.
He said that there was a need for the Niger government to do more in allocation and release of funds to the educational sector.
Mr Elisha said the GEP3 project had helped in reducing low girls enrollment, retention, completion and transition at basic educational level.
