Court Rules Local Governments Autonomous for Education Funds

On October 13, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja clarified the constitutional position in the case of Sesugh Akum v. UBEC, declaring local governments as autonomous entities, not merely extensions of state governments.

This ruling, delivered by Attorney General Emeka Nwite, allows local governments to access federal funds for basic education directly from UBEC, bypassing state government intermediaries. The court struck down provisions that required local governments to match grants through state agencies, which had been seen as a bottleneck in funding.

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) acknowledged a significant shortfall of 263 billion naira in unaccessed funds, with 18 million Nigerian children currently out of school. Aisha Garba, UBEC's Executive Secretary, highlighted the educational crisis, noting a deficit of 43,456 primary school teachers across sixteen states.

The ruling aims to empower local governments to function effectively in delivering educational services and addressing the ongoing educational challenges in Nigeria.