Budget Controversy: Almajiri Education Commission Denies Ownership of Questioned 2026 Projects

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has defended its role in implementing several controversial projects listed under its 2026 budget, clarifying that the projects were not initiated by the Commission but were National Assembly constituency projects assigned to it for execution.

The clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny over budget items considered unrelated to the Commission’s statutory mandate, following reports that questioned why an agency established to address Nigeria’s Almajiri system and out-of-school children crisis was allocated projects outside the education sector.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Executive Secretary’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nura Muhammad, the Commission explained that the projects became part of its implementation responsibilities after they were included in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

According to the Commission, assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is a long-standing feature of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process. Once the National Assembly passes the budget and projects are assigned to an agency, the agency is legally required to execute them in line with procurement laws and financial regulations.

Despite the controversy, the Commission stressed that its statutory mandate remains unchanged. It said its primary responsibility is to coordinate national efforts aimed at reforming the Almajiri education system and reducing the number of out-of-school children through policies and programmes that expand access to quality education.

Highlighting its achievements, the Commission disclosed that it has profiled more than 700,000 out-of-school children across Nigeria and established 119 learning centres nationwide. It also said it has intensified grassroots advocacy campaigns and continues to implement the National Policy on Almajiri Education in collaboration with state governments and development partners.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that vulnerable children have access to education while acknowledging the support of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.

The statement comes as debates over the 2026 Appropriation Act continue to intensify, with several federal agencies facing questions over budget allocations perceived to fall outside their legal responsibilities. Analysts say the controversy has renewed calls for greater transparency, accountability and better alignment between government agencies’ statutory mandates and the projects assigned to them.

While the Commission insists it is only carrying out legal obligations imposed by the Appropriation Act, it maintains that addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis remains its foremost priority.