Analysis of State Government Budgetary Allocations to Education in Enugu State, South East Nigeria (2018-2023)

This study analyses state government budgetary allocations to the education sector in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, covering the period 2018 to 2023. Education financing remains a fundamental governance challenge in Nigeria, with many states falling short of the UNESCO benchmark of 15 to 20 percent of national budgets for education. Grounded in public finance theory and recent literature on education policy in sub-Saharan Africa from 2019 to 2024, the study employs a descriptive documentary research design. Data are extracted from five years of Enugu State budget estimates, Auditor General reports, and Ministry of Education expenditure returns. Quantitative budget analysis techniques including proportional allocation analysis and trend mapping are applied. The study expects to reveal year-on-year inconsistencies in education budget appropriations, a persistent gap between approved allocations and actual releases, and disproportionate spending on recurrent rather than capital items. It also assesses how education funding patterns correlate with enrolment rates, infrastructure quality, and teacher deployment at the local government level. The research makes a practical contribution to evidence-based education planning in South East Nigeria and provides benchmarks for comparative analysis across other states. Recommendations will target budget discipline, legislative oversight of sector allocations, and outcome-linked education expenditure frameworks. Keywords: education financing, budget allocation, Enugu State, public expenditure, South East Nigeria