The Federal Ministry of Education has strongly refuted recent media reports containing baseless, libellous, and sponsored allegations against the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hajia Aisha Garba.
The allegations—spread by a shadowy group operating under the name “Education Rights Activists Coalition (ERAC)”—are entirely unfounded and appear to be the work of subversive interests threatened by the transformational reforms currently reshaping Nigeria’s basic education sector.
In an official statement, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the claims as false, malicious, and politically motivated. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering confidence in Hajia Garba’s leadership and condemned the narrative as a deliberate attempt to derail the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Ordinarily, the Ministry would not respond to such fabrications,” the Minister said. “However, in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly, it is essential to set the record straight.”
The allegations of administrative misconduct, abuse of office, and procedural breaches are not only baseless but clearly part of a coordinated smear campaign aimed at discrediting the significant progress made under Garba’s leadership.
Since assuming office, Hajia Aisha Garba—a seasoned education professional with over 24 years of global experience, including 15 years at the World Bank—has led UBEC with integrity and accountability, transforming it into a results-driven institution focused on access, quality, and equity.
Key achievements under her leadership include:
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Construction of 4,951 new classrooms and renovation of 3,070 others
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Establishment of Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) centres
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Provision of 353,625 units of school furniture and distribution of over 5 million textbooks
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Training of more than 147,000 teachers in inclusive, modern teaching practices
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Launch of Nigeria’s largest-ever teacher professional development initiative, reaching nearly 978,800 teachers
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Revision of the Minimum Basic Education Standards to foster safe, inclusive learning environments
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Curriculum reform in partnership with NERDC, embedding digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking
On education financing, Hajia Garba spearheaded critical reforms to the Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP) and the Matching Grant formula, introducing results-based planning, flexible funding, and dedicated budget lines for teacher training, EMIS, digital tools, and learning materials. These reforms enabled 28 states and the FCT to access ₦78.6 billion of the ₦120 billion 2024 UBE fund.
Her administration also deepened collaboration with key stakeholders, including:
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Federal and State Ministries of Education
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State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs)
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Nigerian Governors’ Forum
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Development partners such as the World Bank (HOPE-Edu, BESDA-AF), UNICEF, KOICA, FCDO, and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
Through the School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC–SIP), UBEC has supported over 15,000 grassroots projects, enhancing local participation and accountability in education delivery.
Given these verifiable achievements, the Ministry reaffirms its full support for Hajia Aisha Garba and applauds her unwavering commitment to transparency, excellence, and inclusive education.
The Ministry encourages her and the entire UBEC team to remain focused and undistracted in their mission to deliver quality, safe, and globally competitive basic education for every Nigerian child.
Elijah Adeyemi
