Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi are set to lead education spending in the South-east region under their 2026 budgets, according to an analysis by PREMIUM TIMES. Enugu State, under Governor Peter Mbah, allocated N521.87 billion to education, representing 32.21 per cent of its N1.62 trillion budget, surpassing the 26 per cent benchmark recommended by UNESCO and stipulated in Nigeria's National Policy on Education. Abia, led by Governor Alex Otti, budgeted N203.25 billion for education, equivalent to 19.93 per cent of its N1.02 trillion budget, while Ebonyi, under Governor Francis Nwifuru, earmarked N175.89 billion, or 19.86 per cent of its N885.81 billion budget. Anambra and Imo lag behind, with allocations of 10.14 per cent and 5.89 per cent respectively. Imo's N86.6 billion for education forms the lowest proportion in the region. Enugu's allocation includes N236 billion for smart senior secondary schools, while Abia plans to fence 262 secondary schools at a cost of N17.8 billion. Ebonyi set aside N20 billion for scholarships, including N15 billion for foreign scholarships. Anambra's N22 billion will fund high-tech digital institutions, and Imo allocated N15.2 billion for a University of Innovation, Science and Technology. However, 2025 implementation data reveal gaps: Enugu spent 49.1 per cent of its education budget, Abia 37.4 per cent, and Ebonyi 72.5 per cent. Anambra and Imo spent 45.2 per cent and 45.3 per cent respectively. Vice President Kashim Shettima has advocated for diversified funding models involving private sector and community participation.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State stands out in the 2026 budget cycle not just for meeting the 26 per cent education funding benchmark, but for exceeding it with a 32.21 per cent allocation—making him the only South-east governor to do so. While others in the region remain below the threshold, Mbah's administration is directing N236 billion toward smart secondary schools, a capital-intensive project that signals a shift from maintenance to transformation in public education infrastructure.
The disparities in both allocation and implementation reveal deeper governance challenges. Despite Abia and Ebonyi committing nearly 20 per cent of their budgets to education, Abia spent only 37.4 per cent of its 2025 education budget, raising doubts about execution capacity. Ebonyi, with the region's highest implementation rate at 72.5 per cent, demonstrates that revenue collection and fiscal discipline matter as much as budgetary intent. The fact that Imo, with the largest budget in the region at N1.47 trillion, allocates just 5.89 per cent to education underscores a misalignment between financial capacity and sectoral priority.
For parents, students, and teachers across the South-east, the real impact hinges not on announced figures but on classroom-level delivery. Underfunded schools, poor teacher welfare, and decaying infrastructure remain everyday realities, even in states with improved budgets. If past spending rates hold, millions of naira could remain unspent or misallocated, leaving education outcomes stagnant.
This pattern reflects a broader national trend: Nigerian states frequently announce ambitious education budgets, but structural inefficiencies, weak oversight, and revenue constraints routinely undermine execution. Without stronger accountability mechanisms, even well-intentioned allocations risk becoming symbolic rather than transformative.
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