Federalism, Counterpart Funding, and Basic Education Deficits in North-Central Nigeria
https://doi.org/10.56225/ijassh.v4i4.459
Keywords:
Federalism, Counterpart funding, Universal Basic Education (UBE), Education financing, Intergovernmental relationsAbstract
Persistent deficits in basic education across North-Central Nigeria have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme, particularly within the framework of Nigeria’s federal system. This study examines how federal institutional arrangements and counterpart funding mechanisms influence the accessibility, quality, and sustainability of basic education delivery in Kwara State. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative survey data from 200 respondents (education officers and teachers) with qualitative insights from 15 key informants, including officials from State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB), Local Government Education Authorities, and education-focused organizations. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, while descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square tests were used for analysis. The findings reveal that Nigeria’s federal structure significantly influences the fiscal and administrative relationship between the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and SUBEBs (χ² = 84.623, p < 0.05). The study also finds that compliance with counterpart funding requirements significantly affects the accessibility, quality, and sustainability of basic education delivery in Kwara State (χ² = 112.450, p < 0.05). These results suggest that structural ambiguities in federal governance and fiscal capacity disparities among states limit the effective implementation of UBE programmes. The study concludes that improving basic education outcomes requires strengthening intergovernmental coordination, reforming counterpart funding arrangements, and enhancing state governments' fiscal capacity.
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