The Jigawa State Government has achieved approximately 30% of its 2023 budget goals in the education sector, spending over ₦23.4 billion on both capital and recurrent expenditures under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. This was revealed during a mid-year budget review hosted by the Jigawa Education and Accountability Forum (JEAF), highlighting the state’s budget performance for the first half of the year.

In his review, Comrade Isa Mustapha detailed the allocations, noting that ₦15.4 billion was directed toward personnel costs, ₦1.2 billion for overheads, and ₦6.7 billion for capital projects, collectively representing 28.9% of the annual budget for education. However, JEAF Secretary Comrade Ayuba Gwaram expressed concern, indicating that the budget execution fell short of expectations.

Gwaram further elaborated on JEAF’s mission, which includes promoting transparency and accountability in the education sector through a coalition of government entities, professional bodies, traditional leaders, and the media. With backing from the UK-funded PLANE initiative, JEAF has engaged communities and education administrators to strengthen public involvement in educational oversight.

The forum encouraged the state government to intensify its budget implementation efforts and prioritize the recruitment of additional teachers, addressing both staffing shortages and infrastructure deficits in Jigawa’s educational system.