Despite experiencing an oil revenue windfall, all six South-South states in Nigeria—Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, and Rivers—have failed to meet the National Policy on Education's recommended 26% benchmark for education funding in their 2026 budgets. Analysis of approved budgets reveals that no state in the region allocated funds up to this critical threshold for personnel, overhead, and capital expenditure. Delta State allocated the highest percentage at 11.98%, equating to N207.27 billion, yet this is less than half of the benchmark. This contrasts sharply with South-Eastern states like Enugu, which surpassed the benchmark with a 32.21% allocation. Issues of budget transparency and under-spending were also noted in several South-South states, including Akwa Ibom and Cross River, despite significant revenue generation.