Almajiri Commission Says Budget Items Are Assembly Projects

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children's Education said controversial items in its 2026 ^[1] budget are National Assembly constituency projects.

This clarification comes as the commission faces scrutiny over budget allocations that appear to fall outside its primary mandate. By distancing itself from the conception of these projects, the commission is attempting to shift accountability for the spending priorities to the legislators who assigned them.

Dr. Nasiru Gwamishi, Director General of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children's Education (NCAOOSCE), addressed the concerns Tuesday ^[2]. He said the commission is acting as an implementing body rather than the architect of these specific expenditures.

"The projects were not conceived by the Commission but were National Assembly constituency projects assigned to it for implementation," Gwamishi said ^[1].

The dispute centers on "non-mandate projects," expenditures that do not align with the core mission of educating out-of-school children or supporting the almajiri system ^[3]. These projects are typically inserted into the budget by lawmakers to benefit their specific constituencies, but they are often managed by federal agencies.

NCAOOSCE officials maintain that the agency must execute the projects as directed by the legislative body. This dynamic often creates tension when an agency's budget is inflated by projects that do not contribute to its primary goals ^[2].

The commission's public statement seeks to clarify that these items are not internal initiatives. The agency said the responsibility for the selection and design of these projects rests with the National Assembly ^[3].