Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Almajiri Commission 2026 budget has come under public scrutiny, prompting the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) to clarify that projects questioned in the 2026 Appropriation Act are National Assembly constituency projects assigned to the agency for implementation under established federal budgeting procedures.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NCAOOSCE says the projects do not represent a departure from its statutory mandate but are constituency interventions routinely allocated to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution after approval in the national budget.
The statement, signed by the Commission’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nura Muhammad, says all assigned projects will be implemented in accordance with existing laws, financial regulations and transparent public procurement procedures.
According to the commission, the arrangement follows long-standing federal budgeting practices under which MDAs execute constituency projects approved by the National Assembly.
Despite the additional responsibilities, NCAOOSCE says its core mandate remains focused on reforming the Almajiri education system and addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.
Highlighting its achievements, the agency says it has identified and profiled more than 700,000 out-of-school children across Nigeria and established 119 learning centres nationwide.
It adds that it continues to implement ward-to-ward community advocacy campaigns while advancing the full implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education to reduce the number of out-of-school children and address related social challenges.
NCAOOSCE also expresses appreciation to the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, and other stakeholders for supporting its programmes.
The agency says it remains committed to delivering its statutory responsibilities while ensuring every Nigerian child has access to quality education and opportunities for a better future.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
