N8.4 Billion Diverted from Almajiri Education Budget

The National Assembly has been criticized for inserting unrelated projects into the budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and out-of-school Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE). Out of a total budget of N22.8 billion for 2026, N8.4 billion is allocated for initiatives such as road construction in Ekiti, Ogun, and Katsina States, as well as procuring ambulances and solar streetlights, which do not relate to the education of vulnerable children.

This diversion has sparked outrage among individuals and civil society groups, including the IA-Foundation, which stated that funds intended for education are being misallocated. The Almajiri system has left millions of children homeless and begging on the streets.

In 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari established the Almajiri Commission to address this issue, and in 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reconstituted its leadership. However, the impact of the Commission remains minimal.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced a partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics to conduct a nationwide survey to better estimate the number of out-of-school children, currently estimated at 18 to 20 million.