2026 Budget : FG Earmarks N113.7bn For School, Feeding, Scholarship
- Ogunmoyero Moyinoluwa (King Praizz)
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Federal Government of Nigeria has earmarked a significant sum of ₦113.76 billion within the 2026 fiscal year budget to address critical gaps in the education sector. This allocation, part of the broader ₦58.18 trillion budget estimate presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly, focuses on enhancing student welfare, expanding access to basic education, and securing learning environments across the federation.
A primary pillar of this expenditure is the National School Nutrition Feeding Programme, which has been allocated ₦42 billion. This initiative aims to improve the nutritional intake of primary school pupils, thereby incentivizing school attendance and enhancing cognitive development. Parallel to this, ₦35 billion has been designated for the "Out-of-School Children Project," a strategic move intended to drastically reduce the population of children currently excluded from the formal education system.
Security remains a top priority, with ₦28 billion set aside to bolster the infrastructure of 118 Unity Colleges nationwide. These funds are slated for the construction of perimeter fencing and the installation of solar-powered electricity to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students. This move comes as a response to persistent security challenges that have historically disrupted academic calendars in various regions.
For tertiary education, the government has proposed ₦1.4 billion for the verification and servicing of the Federal Government Scholarship Awards. This funding will cover 8,337 scholars from the 2019 through 2023 academic cycles who are currently enrolled in public tertiary institutions. The provision ensures that the government meets its outstanding obligations to high-achieving students, maintaining the integrity of the national scholarship scheme
Collectively, these interventions represent a multi-faceted approach to educational reform. By balancing infrastructure security with social welfare programs like school feeding and scholarships, the administration seeks to create a more resilient and inclusive educational framework. Stakeholders now await the National Assembly’s final approval to trigger the commencement of these critical projects.
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