The Young Leaders Network (YLN) in partnership with the Bauchi State Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination on Tuesday convened a Review Meeting for Bauchi State’s Q2 2025 Education Sector Budget Performance.
The meeting, held under the Strengthening Advocacy for Girls Education (SAGE) Project funded by Malala Fund, brought together stakeholders in the education sector in the state and representatives from the State Ministry of Education and its relevant Agencies.
The Executive Director, Young Leaders Network, Seun Justin Onarinde, highlighted the organization’s commitment to ensuring budget alignment with education plans.
Seun said “our intention is to continue with what we have started in terms of budget performance review, so that we don’t wait longer only to realize at the end of the year that as a state, we have not met our education targets.”
In his goodwill message, the Director of Finance in the Ministry of Education, Rabi’u Ibrahim Kubdiya emphasized the importance of efficient resource allocation and management in achieving budget objectives, insisting that “the budget performance is not just a figure, but rather scarce resource allocation to numerous needs to achieve organizational objectives. It is also about how efficient and effective organizations manage scarce resources.”
He further explained that for the performance figure of the Ministry to be factually accurate, it must capture certain activities undertaken by the AGILE Project, which has done so much in addressing challenges in the education sector.
Abubakar Sadeeq Usman, Planning Officer with the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, presented an overview of the Bauchi State Education Q2 Budget Performance noting that “while the state made progress in sustaining education funding, gaps remain in the timely release of funds for execution and achievement of education outcomes.”
Stakeholders unanimously agreed that the cumulative 23.02% performance of the Education Sector Budget for Q1 and Q2, 2025 based on the information obtained from the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination needs improvement.
Stakeholders at the meeting identified challenges up to and including teacher development, changes in leadership structures in education MDAs, and insufficient capacity among Planning Officers among others.
To address these challenges, the meeting proposed solutions, including enhanced budget credibility, strengthened partnerships, and improved budget reporting compliance. Others include prioritization of teacher development, and capacity building for Planning Officers.
The meeting aimed to bridge gaps and ensure effective budget implementation to achieve education targets in Bauchi State. The next round of the review meeting is expected in November
