Six states in Nigeria's North-east region - Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe - have collectively allocated N546.1 billion to education in their 2026 budgets. Despite this significant allocation, none of the states meets the 26 per cent education spending benchmark recommended by Nigeria's National Policy on Education. The National Policy on Education prescribes a 26 per cent allocation to education, while the National Policy on Enhancement of Almajiri Education (2025) mandates structured funding for integrating Almajiri children into formal learning systems.
The allocations show major differences in the priority given to education across the region, as well as wide variations in how effectively states implemented their 2025 education budgets. A review of the 2026 budgets found that while some states earmarked substantial sums for school construction, rehabilitation, scholarships, and tertiary institutions, provisions specifically targeting the education and integration of Almajiri children remain limited in Adamawa, Borno, and Taraba. Integrating Almajiri children in school is crucial due to the concentration of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria and the federal government's concern about the Almajiri system.
Adamawa tops education budget in North-east, with N113.38 billion allocated to education from its N583.33 billion 2026 budget, representing 19.4 per cent. The state earmarked N3.55 billion for foreign scholarships, N1.23 billion for students' scholarship allowances, N3.9 billion for construction of a College of Medical Sciences complex, and N3.5 billion for construction of a Faculty of Engineering complex at Adamawa State University, Mubi. However, no specific provision for Almajiri education was found in the 2026 budget. The state's 2025 education budget also raises questions about implementation, with only 47 per cent performance.
Bauchi allocated N131.72 billion to education from its N877.05 billion 2026 budget, representing 15.01 per cent. The allocation includes N2.29 billion for the rehabilitation of 1,003 schools, while another N2.3 billion is earmarked for the purchase of 4,500 chairs and 4,500 tables for upper secondary schools. The state also budgeted N2 billion for construction of a perimeter wall at Sa'adu Zungur University. It budgeted N758.5 million in capital expenditure for the Bauchi State Agency for Nomadic Education, which also covers Almajiri education. In 2025, Bauchi spent N50.28 billion out of a budgeted N64.98 billion for education, representing 77.4 per cent implementation.
Borno's N892.45 billion 2026 budget includes N134.90 billion for education, representing 15.1 per cent. Among the largest projects is N17 billion for the construction of mega public secondary schools. Another N11 billion is approved for the rehabilitation of 25 public schools across the state's three senatorial districts. The state made a capital provision of N3.4 million for Borno State Nomadic Education, which covers Almajiri education. This is the lowest budgetary provision in the region for Almajiri education among states that have budgeted for it. In 2025, Borno spent N57.78 billion out of N74.62 billion budgeted for education, translating to 77.4 per cent performance.
Gombe allocated N71.89 billion, or 11.6 per cent, of its N617.95 billion 2026 budget to education, the lowest proportion among the six North-east states. However, the state has several large education infrastructure projects, including N7 billion for the construction of six additional model/mega secondary schools and another N7 billion for the construction, upgrading, and furnishing of 537 secondary schools. The state earmarked N1 billion for the construction of three schools for the integration of Almajiri children. In 2025, Gombe spent N32.2 billion of its N46.71 billion education budget, a 68.9 per cent performance.
Taraba and Yobe also made significant allocations to education in their 2026 budgets. Taraba allocated N114.44 billion to education, representing 17.5 per cent, while Yobe allocated N79.79 billion, representing 15.5 per cent. Yobe recorded the strongest education budget performance among the six states in 2025, spending almost 100 per cent of its budgeted N43.44 billion for education. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had noted in January 2025 that Nigeria needed increased funding to address the Almajiri and out-of-school children crisis.
Key points
- None of the six North-eastern states meets the 26 per cent education spending benchmark recommended by Nigeria's National Policy on Education.
- The states' allocations to education show major differences in priority and wide variations in implementation of 2025 education budgets.
- Provisions specifically targeting the education and integration of Almajiri children remain limited in Adamawa, Borno, and Taraba.
