Nigeria, April 15 -- An analysis by PREMIUM TIMES shows that three South-east states-Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi-will be the region's top education spenders in their 2026 budgets, committing a large share of their total budgets to the sector.

Despite the increased allocations, only Enugu meets the 26 per cent benchmark prescribed in Nigeria's National Policy on Education and recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

A review of the approved 2026 budgets-covering personnel costs, overhead and capital projects-shows that Enugu, under Governor Peter Mbah, allocated N521.87 billion to education, representing 32.21 per cent of the state's N1.62 trillion budget.

Abia, led by Governor Alex Otti, ...