Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi Lead South-East 2026 Education Budget Allocations

An examination of the proposed 2026 budgets reveals that Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi states are projected to be the leading spenders on education within the South-East geopolitical zone, dedicating significant portions of their overall fiscal plans to the sector.

Despite these increased allocations, only Enugu State has met the 26 per cent funding benchmark stipulated by Nigeria’s National Policy on Education, a target also endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as crucial for national development.

The approved 2026 budgets, which encompass expenditures on personnel, overheads, and capital projects, indicate that Enugu, under Governor Peter Mbah, has allocated N521.87 billion to education. This represents 32.21 per cent of the state’s total budget of N1.62 trillion.

Abia State, with Governor Alex Otti at the helm, has earmarked N203.25 billion for education, making up 19.93 per cent of its N1.02 trillion budget. Ebonyi State, governed by Francis Nwifuru, has set aside N175.89 billion, which is 19.86 per cent of its N885.81 billion budget.

Anambra and Imo states show lower allocations in comparison.

Governor Charles Soludo’s administration in Anambra State has budgeted N77.71 billion for education, accounting for 10.14 per cent of the state’s N766.37 billion budget. Meanwhile, Imo State, under Governor Hope Uzodimma, has allocated N86.6 billion, which is 5.89 per cent of its N1.47 trillion budget.

Nigeria's National Policy on Education mandates that at least 26 per cent of annual government spending at federal and state levels should be directed towards education. This recommendation aligns with UNESCO's guidance for developing nations to prioritize education investment as a driver of socio- economic progress.

While Enugu surpasses this essential threshold, the remaining four South-East states fall short, with Imo presenting the region's lowest budget share for education.

Major projects are driving these allocations.

In Enugu, a significant N236 billion has been designated for the construction and equipping of smart senior secondary schools. Abia's budget prioritizes the fencing of 262 secondary schools, a project costed at N17.8 billion. Ebonyi has allocated N20 billion for a scholarship program, comprising N15 billion for international scholarships and N5 billion for domestic ones.

Anambra plans to invest N22 billion in developing high-tech digital institutions across its three senatorial districts. In Imo, the establishment of a University of Innovation, Science and Technology in Oru East is the largest projected expenditure, valued at N15.2 billion.

Budget performance data from 2025 raise questions about the states' capacity to fully implement their education spending plans, despite the projected increases.

Enugu spent 49.1 per cent of its N318.95 billion education budget in 2025, even though education constituted 32.8 per cent of the state’s total budget for that year. The state reported a total revenue of N766.89 billion during 2025.

Abia recorded a lower implementation rate, spending N67.25 billion, or 37.4 per cent, of its N179.79 billion education budget, against a total revenue of N414.17 billion.

Ebonyi demonstrated the strongest budget execution among the five states, implementing 72.5 per cent of its N79.98 billion education budget after receiving N334.05 billion in revenue.

For Anambra, 45.2 per cent of the N72.19 billion education budget was utilized. In Imo, 45.3 per cent of the education budget was spent, amounting to N25.81 billion out of a planned N57 billion.

Given the persistent funding challenges within Nigeria's education sector, Vice President Kashim Shettima has advocated for collaborative and diversified funding strategies. He urged for the involvement of the private sector, alumni networks, and local communities to bolster education funding.