. Agency Established To Tackle Out-Of-School Crisis Funds Roads In Ogun, Ekiti, Katsina
… 2026 Budget Prioritises Road Construction Over Key Education Interventions
Daud Olatunji
The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education has earmarked no fewer than N8.4bn for road construction and rehabilitation projects in its 2026 budget, despite being legally established to tackle Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children crisis.
An analysis of the 2026 Appropriation Act by PLATFORM TIMES showed that the commission channelled billions of naira to road projects in Ogun, Ekiti and Katsina states, while also making provisions for ambulances, dental equipment, solar street lights and empowerment tools—projects that fall outside its statutory mandate.
The commission, which was established through an Act signed into law on May 27, 2023, under the Federal Ministry of Education, received N22.82bn in the 2026 budget, comprising N21.68bn for capital projects and N1.14bn for recurrent expenditure.
However, rather than concentrating spending on programmes aimed at reducing Nigeria’s estimated 20 million out-of-school children, a significant portion of its capital allocation was committed to road infrastructure.
Budget documents showed that the commission allocated N1.4bn for the rehabilitation and construction of Eyinni High School–Lusada Junction Road, Ibooro; Idiya Central Community Road, Abeokuta; Ile Ise Community Asuje Road; and Soyoye Community Road in Ogun State.
Another N1.05bn was earmarked for the rehabilitation of Pakoiji-Iporan Township Road in Ipokia Ward 2, while an additional N1.05bn was budgeted for the construction of RCC Opposite Honda Agbebi Community Road and Ajuwon Baale Road.
The agency also set aside N1.4bn for the construction and rehabilitation of Obasanjo Itele Road, Nazareth Road, Oke Ola, Imeko, Idogo Township Road and Odedeyo-Mewuro Road, all in Ogun State.
In Katsina State, the commission budgeted N2.1bn for internal road projects in Dan Marke, Sabon Gari Yargoje and Sharada Burburga communities.
It further allocated N1.4bn for the construction of internal roads within Government Science College, Iyin, Ekiti State.
Beyond road projects, the commission budgeted N700m for ambulances, furniture, dental X-ray machines and dental chairs for a dental centre in Iyin, Ekiti State.
Another N700m was provided for the installation of solar-powered street lights in communities within Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, while an additional N700m was allocated for women and youth empowerment tools in the same council area.
The commission’s enabling law empowers it to coordinate Almajiri education programmes, support the integration of formal and Qur’anic education, provide learning materials, train teachers, implement school feeding programmes, award scholarships and strengthen child protection measures.
Road construction, healthcare infrastructure and community empowerment projects do not form part of its statutory responsibilities.
Under existing laws, federal road construction and maintenance fall within the mandates of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, while healthcare infrastructure is primarily handled by relevant health institutions.
When contacted, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, said he could not immediately comment on the controversial allocations.
He said, “Today is Sunday, but if you can give me some time, I will reach out to my budget office to obtain the full details. I would appreciate it if we could discuss this during the week so I can provide the comprehensive information you requested.”
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Budget Office of the Federation were unsuccessful as its Head of Media and Public Relations, Afolabi Olajuwon, neither answered calls nor responded to text messages.
However, a senior Budget Office official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said agencies often end up implementing projects outside their mandates after lawmakers introduce them during budget consideration.
“They call them constituency projects and since the government can’t fund them directly through the National Assembly, they use agencies as proxies. If an agency resists, its budget approval could be delayed or frustrated,” the official said.
A member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, who also requested anonymity, acknowledged that the practice had become commonplace, noting that lawmakers frequently nominate agencies to execute constituency projects irrespective of their legal responsibilities.
Reacting, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the allocations as a clear case of mandate distortion.
He warned that assigning road projects to an education-focused commission would weaken accountability, undermine institutional efficiency and divert scarce resources from addressing Nigeria’s deepening education crisis.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Umar Yakubu, said the commission should focus on interventions capable of reducing the country’s out-of-school population rather than embarking on road construction.
Yakubu argued that allocating infrastructure projects unrelated to education raises serious transparency and accountability concerns, adding that large road contracts often create opportunities for financial abuse.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations, Ibrahim Yusuf, described the budgetary provisions as another example of misplaced priorities.
He called on the Executive, the National Assembly and oversight institutions to review the allocations and ensure that public funds are spent strictly in line with the legal mandates of government agencies.
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