The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has allocated N5.18 billion to 518 communities across Nigeria for the implementation of its School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP).
This was disclosed by UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Akinyemi, on Thursday in Abuja during the national flag-off ceremony of the 2025 SBMC-SIP.
At the event, the commission also rolled out the 2025 SBMC-SIP cycle as part of broader efforts to improve basic education delivery, while unveiling a new Learners’ Retention Programme and releasing N434.5 million as final tranche funding for previously approved school projects.
“I am pleased to announce that 518 communities will receive a total sum of N5,180,000,000.00 as the total support funds earmarked for the 2025 SBMC-SIP implementation.
“This translates to 14 schools benefiting from each of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” Aisha Garba said
She added that the programme has continued to deliver measurable outcomes since its inception, supporting schools and improving learning conditions nationwide.
“Since the inception of the SBMC-SIP, the commission has recorded encouraging progress. A total of 1,112 schools have been supported across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, with over N1.5bn disbursed across implementation cycles,” Garba added.
UBEC SBMC-SIP
The UBEC School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) is a flagship intervention of Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Commission designed to strengthen community participation in school governance and improve basic education outcomes.
SBMC-SIP is a community-driven school improvement initiative where funds are disbursed directly to School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), local bodies made up of parents, community leaders, and school representatives. These committees identify priority needs and implement projects in their schools.
The programme is rooted in the idea that schools perform better when communities take ownership of their management and development.
How Programme Works
Operationally, SBMC-SIP follows a structured implementation cycle:
- Selection of beneficiary schools
Schools often in rural or disadvantaged areas are identified based on need. - Capacity building
SBMC members and local education officials receive training on:- project planning
- financial management
- monitoring and accountability
- Direct funding (in tranches)
Funds are released in phases (e.g., first tranche, then second after monitoring).Community-led project execution
SBMCs implement projects such as:- classroom renovation
- furniture provision
- water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities
- school security improvements. UBEC and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) assess progress before further funding is released.
Institutional framework
SBMC-SIP operates through collaboration among:
- UBEC (federal coordination and funding)
- SUBEBs (state-level implementation)
- Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs)
- School-Based Management Committees (community execution)
SBMCs act as the bridge between government and communities, improving accountability and local relevance.
Why SBMC-SIP matters
From a policy and development perspective, SBMC-SIP is significant because it:
- Decentralizes education management
- Improves transparency in fund utilization
- Encourages community ownership of public schools
- Addresses infrastructure gaps quickly at the grassroots
- Complements teacher development and broader education reforms.
