Almajiri Commission Explains Controversial 2026 Budget Projects, Says They Are NASS Constituency Interventions

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children's Education (NCAOOSCE) has clarified that controversial projects captured in its 2026 Appropriation Act, which appear unrelated to its statutory responsibilities, are National Assembly constituency projects assigned to the Commission for implementation.

The Commission said the clarification became necessary following public scrutiny and concerns over the inclusion of projects widely viewed as falling outside its core education mandate.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission's Senior Adviser on Media and Communications to the Executive Secretary, Nura Muhammad, explained that the projects were included in the budget in line with the long-established federal practice of assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution.

According to the Commission, the projects are lawful implementation responsibilities and do not represent a shift in its statutory functions.

"The projects contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act and assigned to the Commission constitute lawful implementation responsibilities and will be executed in strict compliance with existing laws, financial regulations and due procurement procedures," the statement said.

The Commission stressed that while it is responsible for implementing the projects assigned to it under the Appropriation Act, its primary mandate remains unchanged.

It said its core responsibility continues to be the reform of the Almajiri education system and addressing the challenge of out-of-school children across Nigeria.

According to the agency, it remains committed to expanding access to quality education, strengthening Almajiri education, supporting state governments and other stakeholders, and implementing programmes designed to improve educational opportunities for vulnerable children.

The Commission also highlighted what it described as significant progress in implementing its programmes nationwide.

It disclosed that it has identified and profiled more than 700,000 out-of-school children across the country and established 119 learning centres to support educational access.

The agency added that it has intensified ward-to-ward advocacy and community mobilisation campaigns while continuing the implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education, which aims to reform the Almajiri education system and address the broader social challenges associated with it.

The Commission reiterated that reducing the number of Almajiri and out-of-school children remains its foremost priority and pledged to continue pursuing its mandate with renewed commitment.

It also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa'id Ahmad, and other stakeholders in advancing programmes aimed at ensuring every Nigerian child has access to quality education and opportunities for personal development.

The clarification comes amid increasing public scrutiny of constituency projects included in the 2026 federal budget and the practice of assigning such projects to government agencies whose statutory mandates differ from the nature of the interventions.