Almajiri Commission says ‘controversial’ 2026 budget orojects Are National Assembly constituency items
The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has clarified that projects in its 2026 budget that appear outside its mandate are constituency projects nominated by National Assembly members and assigned to it for implementation.
In a statement on Tuesday, the commission explained that the inclusion of such projects in the Appropriation Act follows the established practice of assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for execution.
The commission’s spokesperson, Nura Muhammad, said all projects allocated to NCAOOSCE in the approved 2026 budget fall within its implementation responsibilities and would be executed in line with extant laws, financial regulations and due procurement processes.
The commission, however, stressed that its statutory mandate remains unchanged. It was established to coordinate national efforts to reform the Almajiri education system and tackle the challenge of out-of-school children across the country.
NCAOOSCE reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to quality education, strengthening Almajiri education, supporting state governments and other stakeholders, and implementing programmes aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children.
According to the commission, it has so far identified and profiled more than 700,000 out-of-school children nationwide. It has also established 119 learning centres across the country, intensified community mobilisation and ward-level advocacy, and continued implementing the National Policy on Almajiri to reform the system and curb associated social vices.
NCAOOSCE reiterated its commitment to ensuring every Nigerian child has access to quality education.
The commission also expressed appreciation for the support of the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, and other stakeholders in advancing its mandate.
