A recent analysis by SaharaReporters has uncovered that 265 secondary schools in Anambra State received no funding in the first quarter of 2024 from the government led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The findings are detailed in a 93-page report reviewing the budget performance for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, which reveals that the state government allocated N28,602,449,498.01 to the Ministry of Basic Education under the approved Fiscal Appropriation Act. However, only N2,192,505,585.62, or 7.7% of the budget, was actually released to the ministry during the quarter.
The State Ministry of Basic Education oversees several entities, including the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, the Anambra State Library Board, and various special education centers, as well as the 265 secondary schools and the Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency. The report highlighted that while each of the 265 secondary schools was allocated N175,000 in the 2024 budget, no funds were disbursed to them in the first quarter.
Additionally, the Ministry of Basic Education itself had a total budget of N15,509,680,480, but received just N214,997,512.22 in Q1, equating to only 1.4% of its total allocation. The Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board was budgeted N1,774,894,314.66, yet only N15,000,584.50 was released, representing 0.8% of its budget. In contrast, the Anambra State Library Board was allocated N222,266,507.25, with a substantial 66.6% of that amount released, totaling N148,008,826.43.
The Exam Development Centre was assigned a budget of N49,787,110.10 but only received N2,609,443.33 in Q1. The Special Education Centre in Isulo received a budget allocation of N12,000,000, of which only N2,076,000 was disbursed. The Special Education Centre in Umuchu had a budget of N7,500,000 but received just N1,000,000, while the Special Education Centre in Onitsha was allocated N3,000,000, of which N1,012,500 was released.
The report further indicates that the state government allocated N10,968,419,116.50 to the Post Primary School Service Commission for the year, but only N1,807,800,719.14 was actually disbursed in the first quarter. Each zonal office under the Post Primary School Service Commission had a budget allocation of N525,000; however, none received any funding during this period, according to the budget performance report.
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel: WhatsApp Channel