Controversy Over N8bn Budgeted For Road Construction By Almajiri Commission

According to Daily Trust newspaper, checks from the 2026 Appropriations Act indicate that the commission was allocated N22.82 billion, comprising N21.68 billion for capital expenditure and N1.14 billion for recurrent expenditure.

The sum allocated to road construction, considered to be outside the agency’s mandate amounts to more than 30 percent of its 2025 Budget, raising serious questions  on whether enough funds will still be available to meet its core mandate of reducing the number of out-of-school children and reduction of street beggars, popular as Almajiri, particularly in the northern part of the country.

Nigeria currently has approximately 18.3 to 20 million out-of-school children, according to reports from the United Nations Children’s Fund, and United Nations Economic and Social Economic Organisation, UNESCO.

Estimates also indicate there are between seven to 10 million Almajiri children in Northern Nigeria, though some official figures suggest the number may be as high as 30 million.

The commission’s main mandate is to tackle problems posed by these street urchins and reduce the number of children not currently attending basic schools.

Not a few analysts opine that the commission has veered from these objectives by delving into road construction. How is road construction related to ensuring that children of school age are in school, and kid street urchins are moved out of our streets? the analysts are asking, as the reports also indicate that other projects, have been provided for, which are totally off-mandate.

The off-mandate projects, include the procurement of ambulances and medical equipment and the installation of solar power facilities, in Ogun, Ekiti and Katsina states.

The commission was established by an Act of Parliament on May 27, 2023, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Its mandate is to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children and reduce illiteracy by integrating formal and Qur’anic education and skills acquisition into its curriculum.

According to the National Policy on the Enhancement of Almajiri Education in Nigeria, the document that sets out the agency’s objectives and operational framework, the commission is expected to provide overall coordination, strategic direction and oversight for the implementation of the policy.

It works with state governments to register all Alarammas (teachers) and learning centres, mobilise resources, including budgetary allocations, and provide funding for key interventions such as scholarships, school feeding, the abolition of Almajiri street begging and the provision of learning materials.

It also trains teachers, supervises and evaluates the Almajiri education system, and supports states and local governments in implementing the policy.

The commission, the policy says, collaborates with development partners and relevant agencies to improve service delivery, accredit learning centres and teachers, and enforce child protection laws to safeguard learners from abuse and maltreatment.

It also encourages state governments to establish model Tsangaya schools nationwide, and work with agencies such as the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), UBEC and SUBEB to integrate basic education, vocational skills and intervention programmes into the Almajiri education system.

However, road construction, the provision of solar power and the supply of medical equipment are not among the commission’s mandates as outlined in the policy document, raising questions over the suitability of the Almajiri agency to execute the projects.

Road construction and rehabilitation are the statutory responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), while the procurement of ambulances and dental equipment is ordinarily the responsibility of government health institutions and agencies.

Budget experts and accountability advocates have described the development as a troubling case of mandate distortion in Nigeria’s budgeting process, warning that allocating projects outside an agency’s statutory responsibilities weakens accountability and diverts scarce public resources away from its core mandate.

The questionable projects

According to the 2026 budget, the commission earmarked N1.4bn for the rehabilitation and construction of Eyinni High School to Lusada Junction Road, Ibooro; Idiya Central Community Road, Abeokuta; Ile Ise Community Asuje Road and Soyoye Community Road, Abeokuta.

The commission also voted N1.05bn for rehabilitation and construction of Pakoiji-Iporan Township Road in Ipokia Ward 2 and N1.05 billion for RCC opposite Honda Agbebi Community Road and Ajuwon Baale Road in Ogun State.