Almajiri Commission Clears Air on 2026 Budget Projects

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has clarified that projects in its 2026 Appropriation Act that appear unrelated to its core responsibilities are constituency projects allocated to it for implementation through the federal budget.

The commission made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Nura Muhammad, following public interest and questions over some of the projects captured in its 2026 budget.

It explained that the projects were inserted into the Appropriation Act by the National Assembly as constituency projects, in line with the established practice of assigning such interventions to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution.

According to the commission, the projects do not alter its statutory mandate, but become part of its implementation responsibilities once they are included in the Appropriation Act and assigned to the agency.

“The Commission wishes to clarify that these projects are National Assembly constituency projects incorporated into the 2026 Appropriation Act for implementation through the Commission. This is in line with the long-standing budgetary practice under which constituency projects are assigned to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for execution through the Appropriation Act,” the statement said.

It added that every project assigned to the commission would be executed in strict compliance with extant laws, financial regulations and due procurement processes.

The commission reiterated that its statutory mandate remains focused on reforming the Almajiri education system and addressing the challenge of out-of-school children across the country.

It said its responsibilities include expanding access to quality education, strengthening Almajiri education, supporting states and other critical stakeholders, and implementing programmes that directly improve the lives of vulnerable children.

Highlighting its achievements, the commission disclosed that it has identified and profiled more than 700,000 out-of-school children nationwide.

It also said it has established 119 learning centres across the country, sustained ward-to-ward advocacy and community mobilisation, and continued the implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri aimed at reforming the system and tackling the social challenges associated with it.

The commission assured Nigerians that it would continue to pursue its core mandate with renewed commitment despite the additional responsibility of implementing constituency projects assigned through the budget.

It reaffirmed that addressing the plight of Almajiri and out-of-school children remains its foremost priority.

The commission also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and other stakeholders in advancing its programmes.

It pledged to remain committed to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality education and the opportunity to realise his or her full potential.