Anambra, Enugu, Kano lead 2026 education funding

A sectoral analysis has revealed a divide in how states prioritize education, as 34 state governors presented their 2026 Appropriation Bills this December.
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‎Anambra State has emerged as the national leader, allocating nearly half of its total budget to the sector, while states like Akwa Ibom and Imo trail behind international benchmarks.
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The United Nations (UNESCO) recommends that governments allocate 15% to 20% of their total public expenditure to education. While several northern and southeastern states have surpassed this, others remain below 5%.
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‎Anambra state designated 46.9% that is approximately b₦355bn of it ₦757bn budget on educational facilities and teacher welfare. Enugu state allocated 32.3%, approximately ₦522bn of its ₦1.62tn budget , to fund Smart Green Schools and a ₦30bn school feeding program. Kano State declared a state of emergency on education by allocating 30%, approximately ₦405.3bn of its ₦1.368tn budget to fix 12,000+ schools. Jigawa State allocated 26%, that is approximately ₦234.48bn of its ₦901.84bn budget to meet the full UNESCO recommendation. Kaduna State designated 25%, which is approximately ₦246.25bn of its ₦985.9bn budget, signed into law by Gov. Uba Sani on Dec 23.
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In contrast, some of the wealthiest states of the nation, in terms of IGR and Federal Allocation have recorded the lowest percentages for education. States like Akwa Ibom allocated 2.27%, that is approximately ₦31.6bn of its ₦1.39tn budget, which is the lowest recorded allocation in the 2026 cycle. Imo State  allocated 4.24%, that is ₦60.6bn of its ₦1.43tn budget, despite a 78% increase in the total budget size. Surprisingly Lagos state allocated 5.87%, approximately ₦249bn of its ₦4.237tn, far below the 15% global goal. While Delta state designated 6.11%, that is approximately ₦105bn of its ₦1.72tn budget.
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Some states like Cross River and Ebonyi do not list education as a standalone line item, instead grouping it under Social Services, which includes Health and Housing, making it difficult to track exact spending.
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Governors in Enugu and Kano have stated that the allocations are aimed towards securing the future and preparing youth for a tech-driven global economy.
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Meanwhile, Borno and Rivers states are yet to present their 2026 proposals to their respective Houses of Assembly as at the time this report was published.
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