Almajiri Commission Faces Backlash Over ₦8.4 Billion Road Projects outside mandate in 2026 Budget

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) has come under intense public and media scrutiny following revelations that its 2026 budget includes ₦8.4 billion for road construction and other infrastructure projects in Ogun, Katsina, and Ekiti states expenditures critics say fall outside the agency’s core mandate.

The commission, established in 2023 to tackle the almajiri system and Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school children crisis (estimated at over 15 million, one of the highest globally), received a total allocation of ₦22.82 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act: ₦21.68 billion for capital projects and ₦1.14 billion for recurrent spending.

According to budget details reported by Daily Trust and others, the ₦8.4 billion covers:

• Rehabilitation of township roads in Ogun State.

• Construction of internal roads in Katsina communities.

• Road projects within Government Science College, Iyin-Ekiti.

• Procurement of ambulances, dental X-ray machines, dental chairs, and related medical equipment.

• Installation of solar street lights and distribution of empowerment tools.

Critics argue these allocations divert scarce resources from urgent educational needs such as building schools, teacher training, enrollment drives, feeding programs, and skills acquisition for vulnerable children.

In response to the outcry, the commission distanced itself from the projects.

Spokesperson Nura Muhammad stated that the off-mandate items were “constituency projects” inserted by members of the National Assembly during the budget process.

“The projects falling outside the agency’s statutory mandate were inserted by the National Assembly,” the commission maintained, emphasizing that its primary focus remains on education for almajiri and out-of-school children.

The Punch newspaper, in a recent editorial titled “Almajiri Commission: Stop This Budgeting Absurdity,” described the situation as a glaring example of Nigeria’s flawed budgeting process.

“It is difficult to imagine a more glaring illustration of how far the country’s appropriation process has drifted from reason, planning and accountability than assigning an education commission billions of naira to build roads,” the editorial stated.

Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the world’s largest populations of out-of-school children, particularly in northern states where the almajiri system involving young boys sent to Islamic schools for Quranic education while often begging on streets remains prevalent.

The commission was created to coordinate interventions, including formal integration, skills development, and support systems to reduce this number.

The controversy highlights ongoing debates about budget padding, constituency projects, and the need for stricter alignment between agency mandates and allocations in Nigeria’s national budget.

As of now, there has been no official comment from the National Assembly or the Presidency on the insertions or potential reallocation of funds.

Calls are mounting for transparency, value-for-money audits, and refocusing resources toward the commission’s original educational objectives.