North-east Nigeria: 2026 Education Budget Allocations Miss 26% Benchmark

• Six North-east Nigerian states collectively budgeted N546.1 billion for education in 2026, but none met the 26% national benchmark.
• The National Policy on Education recommends a 26% allocation, while the 2025 National Policy on Enhancement of Almajiri Education mandates structured funding for Almajiri children.
• Adamawa allocated 19.4% of its 2026 budget to education, the highest percentage among the six states, but made no specific provision for Almajiri education.
• Bauchi allocated 15.01% to education, including N758.5 million for nomadic education which covers Almajiri, and demonstrated 77.4% implementation of its 2025 education budget.
• Borno allocated 15.1% to education, with a provision for Almajiri education that is reportedly the lowest among states that include such funding.

The consistent failure of North-east states to meet the 26 percent education budget benchmark, coupled with uneven 2025 education budget performance and limited Almajiri education funding, has profound implications for the region's development.

Six states in Nigeria's North-east region have collectively earmarked N546.1 billion for education in their 2026 budgets. Despite this substantial allocation, none of these states — Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe — managed to meet the 26 percent education spending benchmark recommended by Nigeria's National Policy on Education. This widespread failure to adhere to the national standard highlights a significant challenge in the region's commitment to addressing its educational crisis, particularly concerning North-east Nigeria 2026 education budget allocations.

Beyond the overall budget shortfalls, a review of these 2026 budgets reveals considerable disparities in how states prioritize education. There are also notable gaps in their 2025 education budget performance, indicating issues not just with allocation but also with implementation. Furthermore, funding for Almajiri education remains limited across several states, exposing an uneven governmental commitment to integrating these vulnerable children into formal learning systems. This situation raises concerns about the effectiveness of current strategies to tackle the high concentration of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria.

The Nigerian National Policy on Education explicitly recommends that states allocate 26 percent of their budgets to education, a benchmark designed to ensure adequate funding for the sector. Complementing this, the National Policy on Enhancement of Almajiri Education, enacted in 2025, mandates structured funding mechanisms to facilitate the integration of Almajiri children into formal educational pathways. However, the 2026 education budget allocations from the North-east states demonstrate a clear non-compliance with the former and often inadequate provision for the latter.

Concerns about insufficient funding for Almajiri education are not new. In January 2025, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa underscored the critical need for increased funding to tackle the Almajiri and broader out-of-school children crisis. He noted that out of more than 100 schools previously constructed for Almajiri children, only a few remained operational, signaling a systemic failure in sustaining these initiatives. The federal government has expressed ongoing concern about the Almajiri system, making the limited Almajiri education funding in North-east states a pressing issue for policy compliance and social development.

Among the North-east states, Adamawa allocated the highest percentage of its 2026 budget to education, dedicating N113.38 billion out of its N583.33 billion total budget, which represents 19.4 percent. Major education-related allocations in Adamawa include N3.55 billion for foreign scholarships, N1.23 billion for student scholarship allowances, N3.9 billion for the construction of a College of Medical Sciences complex, and N3.5 billion for a Faculty of Engineering complex at Adamawa State University, Mubi. Additionally, N2 billion was budgeted for examination fees (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, Basic Certificate Examination), and N3.75 billion for the take-off of the Adamawa State College of Technology. However, no specific provision for Almajiri education was identified in Adamawa's 2026 budget. The state's 2025 education budget performance also raises questions, as only N47.93 billion was spent from a budgeted N102 billion, achieving just 47 percent implementation.

Bauchi state's 2026 education spending includes N131.72 billion from its N877.05 billion total budget, amounting to 15.01 percent. This allocation features N2.29 billion for the rehabilitation of 1,003 schools, N2.3 billion for purchasing 4,500 chairs and 4,500 tables for upper secondary schools, and N2 billion for constructing a perimeter wall at Sa'adu Zungur University. Notably, Bauchi budgeted N758.5 million in capital expenditure for its State Agency for Nomadic Education, which also encompasses Almajiri education funding. In terms of 2025 performance, Bauchi demonstrated a stronger implementation rate, spending N50.28 billion out of N64.98 billion budgeted for education, representing 77.4 percent. Borno state allocated N134.90 billion to education from its N892.45 billion 2026 budget, translating to 15.1 percent. A significant portion, N17 billion, is earmarked for the construction of mega public secondary schools. While Borno does include a provision for Almajiri education, it is reported to be the lowest among states that have made such provisions, further highlighting the varied approaches to Almajiri education funding across the North-east states.

The consistent failure of North-east states to meet the 26 percent education budget benchmark, coupled with uneven 2025 education budget performance and limited Almajiri education funding, has profound implications for the region's development. These budget shortfalls directly impede efforts to address the high number of out-of-school children, particularly in northern Nigeria where the Almajiri system contributes significantly to this demographic. The wide variations in state commitment, as evidenced by their Adamawa Bauchi Borno 2026 education spending, suggest a lack of unified strategy in tackling a crisis that requires comprehensive and sustained investment.

Such discrepancies in resource allocation and adherence to national policies like the Nigerian National Policy on Education compliance underscore the urgent need for enhanced oversight and accountability. The limited provisions for Almajiri children, despite the 2025 policy mandate, mean that a vulnerable population continues to be underserved, perpetuating cycles of educational disadvantage. Addressing these budgetary and implementation gaps is crucial for fostering long-term stability and human capital development across the North-east region.

This article details the failure of North-east Nigerian states to meet national education spending benchmarks and adequately fund Almajiri education in their 2026 budgets. Lawyers advising educational NGOs, public interest groups, or involved in policy advocacy should note these budget shortfalls and non-compliance with national policies as potential areas for intervention, strategic planning, or litigation concerning educational rights and resource allocation.

Source: Original reporting via Premium Times