Almajiri Commission Says Controversial Road Projects Were Inserted as National Assembly Constituency Projects
The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has clarified that the controversial road construction projects contained in its 2026 budget were not initiated by the commission but were constituency projects allocated to it by the National Assembly for implementation.
The clarification follows public criticism after budget details revealed that the commission received ₦22.82 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, including ₦21.68 billion for capital projects and ₦1.14 billion for recurrent expenditure. Among the capital allocations was about ₦8.4 billion earmarked for road construction, raising concerns that such projects fall outside the commission’s statutory responsibilities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Executive Secretary, Nura Muhammad, the commission explained that the projects were included as National Assembly constituency interventions captured in the Appropriation Act and assigned to the agency for execution.
According to the statement, the practice of assigning constituency projects to ministries, departments and agencies has long been part of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process. It added that the commission is legally required to implement every project allocated to it in line with existing financial regulations and procurement laws.
The commission stressed that its core mandate remains focused on reforming the Almajiri education system and tackling the challenge of out-of-school children through policies and programmes that improve access to quality education.
It also highlighted some of its achievements, including the profiling of over 700,000 out-of-school children across the country, the establishment of 119 learning centres, expanded ward-level advocacy campaigns, and continued implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Almajiri education, supporting state governments and other stakeholders, and implementing interventions aimed at improving the welfare and educational opportunities of vulnerable children nationwide.
