The Joint National Assembly Committee on Education has charged the minister of education, Tunji Alausa, to ensure efficient and effective utilisation of the N2.39 trillion appropriated for the education sector in the 2026 budget.

The joint committee, which gave the charge at a budget defence session in Abuja, also urged the all heads of the agencies in the sector to adhere strictly to the principles of federal character in admission, recruitment and other areas.

In his remarks, the chairman, House Committee on University Education, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), said that officials should ensure that admission of students, recruitment and other areas reflected federal character principles.

Mr Fulata said that several agencies were in violation of the constitutional provisions on federal character principles, calling for a halt to such acts.

The lawmaker also cautioned the agencies against spending funds generated without recourse to the National Assembly.

According to him, such practices amount to extra budgetary spending which he terms a gracious financial crime in the country. 

“It is not proper for heads of government institutions to spend internally-generated revenue anyhow they want without recourse to the National Assembly,” Mr Fulata said.

On his part, the chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, described budget defence as a legislative mechanism to ensure effective  implementation. 

He said that the committee would embark on strict oversight visit to ensure that the budgetary allocation met the aspiration of Nigerians.

Earlier, Mr said that the total sum of N2.39 had been earmarked for the sector in the 2026 budget.

He said that the sum of N257.8 billion is for the federal ministry of education while N633.2 billion is for parastatals under the ministry. 

The minister said that federal polytechnics got N256 billion while federal colleges of education received N125.9 billion.

He said that N966.9 billion was earmarked for universities, while unity schools got 155.3 billion, with UNESCO Paris getting N3.3 billion.

(NAN)