2026/2027 Session: Ogun Clears UBEC Backlog, Releases N24bn For School Infrastructure
By Moridiyah Momodu
The Ogun State Government has cleared its backlog of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) counterpart funding up to 2026, paving the way for the release of about N24 billion for the construction, rehabilitation and furnishing of public schools across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu disclosed this while briefing journalists on the state’s preparations for the 2026/2027 academic session, saying the intervention would significantly improve infrastructure and learning facilities in schools.
According to the commissioner, the backlog inherited by the present administration dated back to 2014, when counterpart funding had not been paid for several years.
The commissioner said Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration initially cleared the backlog from 2014 to 2021 before subsequently bringing the state’s counterpart funding obligations up to date through 2026.
The commissioner explained that the N24 billion fund would be deployed to the construction of new classrooms, rehabilitation of existing facilities and provision of furniture for primary and secondary schools.
He added that the implementation process had commenced, with UBEC officials already in the state to facilitate the action plan.
According to him, procurement advertisements are expected to be published in newspapers, with the bidding process expected to take about six weeks.
He expressed optimism that the intervention projects would commence by November, with some projects expected to be visible in schools before the end of the year.
The commissioner said the intervention would lead to the construction of new classrooms, rehabilitation of existing ones and increased provision of tables and chairs across schools.
He added that the state government had also adopted a continuous approach to furniture production rather than relying solely on one-off interventions.
The commissioner also said the safety of learners and teachers remained central to the state’s preparations for the new academic session.
He disclosed that security agencies had been engaged as part of the three-day stakeholders’ meeting held ahead of resumption, stressing that school security required collaboration between government, security agencies, school administrators, parents and members of the public.
The commissioner explained that because it would be impractical for conventional security agencies to permanently deploy large numbers of personnel to every school, the government was exploring additional security measures involving trained personnel focused on intelligence gathering, patrol, access control and emergency response.
He said vulnerable schools had also been identified and their details submitted to security agencies in line with directives from the Federal Government.
The commissioner urged school authorities to strengthen access control, particularly in schools with perimeter fencing and gates.
He said schools without adequate physical barriers should equally strengthen surveillance and monitor movement in and out of their premises.
He also called for stronger collaboration between schools and local security structures.
“Security is everybody’s business,” the commissioner said, urging parents, teachers and members of the public to report suspicious activities rather than leaving security solely to conventional security agencies.
On infrastructure, the commissioner said school facilities were being reviewed ahead of resumption to ensure that classrooms and other essential facilities provided a conducive learning environment.
He directed school heads to identify and report damaged or unsafe facilities before students return to school.
The review, he said, would cover sanitation, water supply, toilets, classrooms, furniture, electricity, school surroundings and other essential facilities.
The government, he added, remained committed to protecting and improving its investments in school infrastructure.
The commissioner further highlighted the state’s progress in the digitalisation of education, particularly its learner identification system.
He disclosed that Ogun had introduced the Learner Identification Number system about five years ago, long before the Federal Government recently mandated states across the country to adopt a similar system.
According to him, the state’s system has been perfected to the extent that the Federal Government is now working with Ogun State and using its experience as a model for the national implementation.
He said the Federal Minister of Education had publicly recognised Ogun’s progress in the area of education digitalisation and directed other states to adopt the national platform while allowing Ogun to continue with its more advanced system.
The commissioner said the state would continue to introduce technology into education planning, administration, teaching and learning.
He also cited the introduction of Omolere, described as an Artificial Intelligence-powered teaching and learning platform, which was launched by Governor Abiodun on January 21.
The platform, he said, was designed to further strengthen teaching and learning through technology.
He added that the state’s school management system would continue to support accurate school and learner records, monitoring, reporting and evidence-based education planning.
The commissioner stressed that the objective of the preparations for the new academic session was not merely to reopen schools but to improve learning outcomes.
He charged school heads and teachers to begin the session with proper lesson planning, effective preparation, supervision and strict adherence to the approved curriculum.
He said academic performance would be closely monitored, while schools would be expected to identify learners requiring additional academic support and provide appropriate interventions.
The commissioner said the government’s investments in infrastructure, security, technology and human capital were ultimately aimed at ensuring that learners receive quality education in a safe and conducive environment.
He assured stakeholders that preparations for the 2026/2027 academic session had been comprehensively coordinated across public and private schools, with emphasis on quality, safety, access, digital transformation and effective human capital development.
