Six North-eastern states have allocated a combined N546 billion to education in their 2026 fiscal plans, yet none of the regional governments reached the 26 per cent policy benchmark for education spending.
The shortfall comes as the region continues to grapple with a severe education crisis, characterised by high numbers of out-of-school children and the ongoing need to rebuild infrastructure. The failure to meet the recommended funding threshold suggests an uneven commitment across the six states to addressing these long-standing developmental challenges.
According to recent budgetary data for the 2026 cycle, the total allocation across the North-east fails to align with national policy objectives intended to stabilise the region’s human capital development.
Funding gaps and the Almajiri education challenge
The budget figures reveal significant discrepancies in how education is prioritised across the North-east. Beyond the failure to meet the 26 per cent benchmark, the data shows that gaps in 2025 spending patterns are likely to persist into the next fiscal year. These spending inconsistencies suggest that even when funds are allocated, the actual implementation and availability of resources may be inconsistent.
A particular area of concern is the limited funding directed towards the Almajiri education system. While the Almajiri system is a deeply rooted part of the social fabric in many North-eastern communities, the lack of substantial budgetary support for its integration into formal or semi-formal educational frameworks leaves millions of children at risk of being left behind.
Experts in regional development note that the education crisis in the North-east is not merely a matter of school buildings, but of sustainable funding models that can support both formal western education and improved traditional systems. Without meeting the recommended 26 per cent threshold, the states may struggle to fund the teacher training, curriculum development, and social safety nets required to bring out-of-school children back into the classroom.
The economic implications of this underfunding are broad. A lack of educational investment in a region that has faced years of insurgency limits the future workforce’s ability to contribute to the national economy and may exacerbate the cycle of poverty and insecurity. The mismatch between the rising cost of educational delivery and the stagnant percentage of budget allocations creates a widening gap in quality and access.
As the 2026 fiscal year approaches, the primary question remains whether these state governments will adjust their spending priorities or if the education sector will continue to receive sub-optimal funding relative to the scale of the crisis. For now, the budget figures indicate that the goal of achieving universal access to quality education in the North-east remains distant.
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