Almajiri Budget: Rights Group Seeks Probe, Calls for Senate Appropriations Chair’s Resignation

A civil rights organisation, Basic Right Action (BRA), has called for an investigation into controversial projects contained in the 2026 budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE).

BRA Executive Director, Malam Naseer Kura, made the call at a press conference in Abuja, urging anti-corruption agencies to investigate how funds appropriated under the commission were allocated to projects that the group said appeared to fall outside its core educational mandate.

Kura also called on the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, to step aside pending an investigation into the allegations. Adeola is the senator representing Ogun West.

Budget details previously reported in the media show that NCAOOSCE received about ₦22.82 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, including approximately ₦21.68 billion for capital expenditure. About ₦8.4 billion was reportedly earmarked for road projects and other interventions that have raised questions over their connection to the commission’s mandate.

Kura said BRA was particularly concerned about projects worth about ₦1.4 billion located in Ogun State, alleging that some of the interventions were associated with Ogun West.

“If established, these actions raise serious questions about the legality, propriety and purpose of the allocations, particularly when the commission was established to address Almajiri education, out-of-school children, literacy, skills acquisition and related educational needs,” Kura said.

The group called on relevant anti-corruption agencies to examine the budget insertion process, procurement records, contract awards and payments connected with the disputed projects.

It also demanded that investigators establish who nominated and approved the projects, identify contractors and their beneficial owners, and determine whether any public official improperly influenced or benefited from the allocations.

BRA further urged investigators to examine possible abuse of office, conflicts of interest, fraudulent procurement or diversion of public funds and, where sufficient evidence of wrongdoing is established, prosecute those responsible and recover any misappropriated funds.

Kura stressed that the organisation’s demand for an investigation should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt against any individual.

“Our demand is for transparency, accountability and strict compliance with Nigerian law,” he said.

However, NCAOOSCE has previously said it did not conceive the controversial projects. The commission said the projects were National Assembly constituency interventions incorporated into the 2026 Appropriation Act and assigned to the agency for implementation. It maintained that its statutory mandate remained focused on reforming Almajiri education and addressing the problem of out-of-school children.

The Federal Government’s policy on Almajiri education identifies the commission’s role as integrating Qur’anic education with literacy, numeracy, entrepreneurial training and life skills while improving the welfare and learning environment of vulnerable children.

Kura said the scale of Nigeria’s out-of-school children challenge made it essential for resources appropriated for education to be managed transparently and directed towards their intended purposes.

“The educational crisis facing Almajiri and out-of-school children requires that funds appropriated for their development be used strictly and transparently for their intended purposes,” he added.