2026 Budget: Federal Government Allocates ₦113.7 Billion for School Feeding, Scholarships and Education Security

The Federal Government has proposed a total allocation of ₦113.764 billion for key education sector interventions in the 2026 fiscal year, according to details contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.

The proposed funding targets critical areas such as school feeding programmes, local and international scholarships, initiatives for out-of-school children, and the strengthening of security infrastructure across federal unity colleges nationwide.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2026 budget estimate of ₦58.18 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, outlining government priorities across major sectors of the economy, including education.

₦28bn earmarked for unity school security infrastructure

A breakdown of the education intervention allocation shows that ₦28 billion has been set aside for security infrastructure in 118 federal unity colleges across Nigeria. The funds will be used for perimeter fencing, solar-powered electricity installations, and other safety-related infrastructure aimed at improving security within the schools.

This allocation comes amid ongoing concerns over student safety and infrastructure deficits in public educational institutions.

Federal Government Scholarship Awards receive ₦1.4bn

The Federal Government also proposed ₦1.4 billion for the servicing and verification of 8,337 beneficiaries under the Federal Government Scholarship Awards covering the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 academic years.

The beneficiaries are Nigerian students currently enrolled in public tertiary institutions across the country.

₦42bn allocated to school feeding programme

Under the 2026 budget proposal, ₦42 billion has been earmarked for the national school nutrition feeding programme for primary school pupils. The programme is designed to improve school enrolment, attendance, and learning outcomes while addressing child nutrition challenges.

₦35bn for out-of-school children intervention

To tackle the growing number of children without access to basic education, the Federal Government proposed ₦35 billion for the out-of-school children project. The initiative is aimed at expanding access to education, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities.

₦5.6bn for bilateral education agreement scholars abroad

Further details from the appropriation bill indicate that ₦5.6 billion has been allocated for the servicing of 1,532 Nigerian scholars studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement programme.

The allocation will cover supplementation allowances, medical and health insurance, warm clothing, postgraduate allowances, and international travel costs.

The affected scholars are studying in countries including Russia, China, Cuba, Romania, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Mexico, Venezuela, and Kazakhstan.

₦1.7bn for new international scholarships

In addition, the Federal Government proposed ₦1.7 billion for the award and implementation of 300 fresh scholarships for Nigerians to study in countries that have bilateral education agreements with Nigeria.

The allocation will also support the monitoring and evaluation of academic performance among scholars already studying in these partner countries.

The proposed education interventions form part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to strengthen human capital development, improve access to quality education, and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness through skills development and international academic exposure.