Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget contains education projects worth at least N29.44 billion that lawmakers reportedly attached to the capital expenditure of the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, Enugu State, despite many of the projects being located far outside the institution’s area of operation.
The projects include classroom construction and renovation, hostels, libraries, ICT centres, examination halls, school equipment and educational materials spread across numerous states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The allocations were identified in the 2,790-page 2026 Appropriation Act, particularly pages 731 to 761, where a large number of constituency-style education projects appear under the budget of the Enugu-based college.
According to a review of the document, about N29.444 billion of the institution’s capital provision was committed to dozens of projects across different parts of the country.
The arrangement has attracted attention because the Federal Co-operative College is primarily responsible for cooperative education, training and management, yet several of the projects listed under its budget involve primary and secondary schools, universities and community education initiatives.
The college itself was allocated N226.77 billion in the 2026 budget, with approximately N225.63 billion classified as capital expenditure.
Major projects
One of the biggest allocations is N6.5 billion for the construction of lecture theatres, faculty buildings, hostels and perimeter fencing at selected locations nationwide.
A further N2.1 billion was set aside for male and female hostel projects in selected schools, while N2 billion was allocated for the construction and furnishing of technical schools in the South-West.
The budget also contains N1.4 billion for laptops and other ICT support intended to improve students’ academic performance in selected communities.
Another N1.05 billion was earmarked for the fabrication and installation of ICT centres in selected areas of the South-South.
Kogi Central Senatorial District received an allocation of N700 million for digital learning devices and smart educational resources. Another N700 million was assigned to the renovation of selected schools in Enugu State.
In Ogun State, several communities and institutions were each allocated N280 million for classroom furnishing and equipment. The listed beneficiaries include communities around Agbara, Owode, Atan, Alapoti, Ijoko, Ilara, Obada, Oniro and Itoro, as well as institutions such as Ofada Community High School, Baptist Boys High School in Abeokuta, Remo Secondary School in Sagamu, Abeokuta Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Tai Solarin University of Education.
Widespread constituency-style allocations
Several other projects were assigned N350 million each.
These include the construction of three-classroom blocks in selected federal constituencies, rehabilitation and furnishing of schools in Amuwo-Odofin, classrooms for children of underprivileged farmers in Oju/Obi Federal Constituency of Benue State and classroom projects in Nasarawa South.
The same amount was also allocated for education projects in Ebonyi South and Ebonyi North, an e-learning community library in Ago-Iwoye, school construction and renovation projects in parts of Edo State, and a female hostel at Usman Danfodio University in Sokoto.
Ebonyi South was also allocated N350 million for secondary-school rehabilitation, while N315 million was set aside for classroom construction and renovation in selected schools within Rivers East Senatorial District.
In Abia North, five local government areas — Bende, Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isiukwuato and Umunneochi — each had N280 million listed for educational materials.
Adamawa North also featured three examination-hall projects, with N280 million allocated to each of GDSS Sorau in Maiha, GSS Kinchigha in Madagali and GDSS Mijilu in Mubi North.
Projects across Lagos and other states
In Lagos, N280 million was provided for school renovation in Lagos Island 1 Federal Constituency, alongside N210 million for educational materials.
There were additional allocations of N140 million for classroom renovation across Eti-Osa and another N140 million for classroom construction and rehabilitation in Lagos Central.
Other notable provisions include N245 million for 100-bed accommodation for medical students at the University of Delta and N210 million each for classroom projects in Bomadi/Patani, Delta State; Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan in Akwa Ibom; and selected schools in the Federal Capital Territory.
The budget further includes N175 million for instructional materials in Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State; N175 million for a back-to-school initiative in Dala, Kano State; N175 million for a computer-based testing centre in Katsina Central; and N175 million each for educational materials in Osun West and the rehabilitation of schools and health centres in Ondo Central.
Another N175 million was allocated for the production and distribution of educational materials to selected secondary schools in Osun West.
More projects under smaller allocations
A number of projects received N140 million each. They include school rehabilitation in Ankpa, educational materials in Bomadi/Patani, classroom construction in Otukpo/Ohimini, a township library in Numan, school renovation and furnishing in Yola North/Yola South/Gerei, a hall at Modibbo Adama University, classroom construction in Kaura, Kaduna State, and classroom and furniture projects in Dawakin Kudu/Warawa, Kano State.
Other N140 million projects cover schools in Owerri, Ideato North/South, Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium, Cross River Central, Lagos Island, Ekiti Central, Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North-East and Sagamu.
The list also includes educational materials in Oyi/Ayamelum, Anambra State, laboratory equipment for Government Secondary School Ukende in Cross River State and several other school interventions.
Projects with N105 million allocations include educational materials in Esan North-East/Esan South-East, classroom construction at Egbadu (Osime) Primary School in Etsako East, classroom blocks at Akpekpe Secondary School in Auchi, school construction and furnishing in Cross River North, classroom projects in parts of Akwa Ibom and Oyo North, among others.
The budget further provides N91 million for furnishing newly built classrooms and offices, N84 million for the Enugu School Kit The Kids Programme Phase 2, N77 million for reconstruction of a male hostel and N70 million for classroom renovation in several states.
Other N70 million provisions cover science laboratory equipment at Ika Grammar School in Agbor, ICT equipment for Ada Grammar School in Delta State, teachers’ accommodation at Ayakoromo and various school rehabilitation and educational-material projects.
Smaller interventions
At the lower end of the list are projects valued at N35 million. They include the renovation of two primary schools in Umunneochi, teacher training in parts of Nasarawa State, school renovation in Obingwa, classroom construction in Ugwunagbo, educational materials in Ebonyi/Ohaokwu, mobile science laboratories in Enugu North/South, solar streetlights for boarding schools in Ebonyi Central and education programmes for indigent youths in Rivers State.
Another N35 million was provided for a science laboratory at Community Secondary School, Isikwe Achi, Oji River; rehabilitation of Community Secondary School, Ndeaboh; science materials in Umunachi, Imo State; renovation of the science laboratory at Ehunachi Comprehensive Secondary School; and educational materials in Ogun West.
The document also contains smaller provisions, including N28 million for educational materials in Surulere 2, Lagos, books for schools in Aguata, Anambra State, and science equipment for Community Secondary School, Korokorosei, Bayelsa State.
Cross River received N21 million for school bags in Abi/Yakurr, while N14 million each was allocated for the rehabilitation of Primary School Lehangha and Imabana 2, as well as customised notebooks for selected schools.
There was also N17.5 million for educational materials in Orumba North/South, Anambra State, and another N17.5 million for the renovation of selected schools in Igbide, Isoko South, Delta State.
Abia State had N11.195 million earmarked for laptops for schools in Onu Ibina, Igbere, Bende Local Government Area, while N6.111 million was provided for books for selected primary schools in Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II.
Questions over accountability
The spread and nature of the projects have raised questions about why a specialised institution such as the Federal Co-operative College is being used as the budgetary vehicle for projects involving schools, universities, libraries, ICT centres and community-based education programmes across the country.
The arrangement also creates questions about which institution is expected to supervise the projects, conduct procurement and ultimately account for their implementation.
The development comes against the backdrop of persistent controversy over constituency projects, budget insertions and the transparency of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process.
Critics of such practices have repeatedly questioned whether projects inserted into annual budgets undergo proper needs assessments, procurement planning and checks to determine whether the agencies listed to execute them have the capacity and statutory authority to do so.
In this case, the apparent disconnect between the Federal Co-operative College’s core mandate and the locations and descriptions of many of the projects could make it difficult for citizens to establish who initiated the interventions, why they were assigned to the college and who will be responsible for ensuring that the projects are delivered.
The allocations therefore add to broader concerns over the growing role of constituency-style projects in the federal budget and the need for clearer accountability whenever public funds are assigned to projects outside the obvious mandate of the implementing institution.