The 2026 federal budget has come under scrutiny after it emerged that the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), an Abuja-based agency, has earmarked over a billion naira for road construction projects in Ogun State, far from its core educational mandate and its Katsina, Ekiti and other northern focus areas.

According to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, under budget code 0517033001, the commission is billed to spend N1.4 billion on the “Rehabilitation and Construction of Obasanjo-Itele Road, Nazareth Road Oke Ola, Imeko, Idogo Township Road and the Odedeyo-Mewuro Road” corridor in Ogun State.

A further N1.4 billion has been allocated for the rehabilitation and construction of the Eyinni High School to Lusada Junction Road, along with several other community roads around Abeokuta.

An analysis of the appropriation document shows that the commission’s total allocation for 2026 stands at N29.4 billion, of which roughly N8.4 billion, about 29 percent, has been set aside for road projects across Ogun, Katsina and Ekiti states. Outside the Ogun State allocations, the budget includes N1.05 billion for internal roads in Danmarke, Katsina State, another N1.05 billion for roads in Sabon Gari Yargoge and Sharada Burburau, also in Katsina, and N1.4 billion for internal roads at the Government Science College in Iyin, Ekiti State.

The allocations have raised questions because the commission, established by an Act of Parliament in May 2023, is statutorily mandated to develop a multimodal education system integrating Qur’anic education with literacy, numeracy and vocational skills, alongside efforts to reduce out-of-school numbers, promote skills acquisition and curb youth destitution and street begging, functions that do not ordinarily extend to road infrastructure. Neither the commission nor the Ministry of Education under which it operates has yet issued a public explanation for the road allocations captured under its headquarters budget.

The disclosure adds to recurring public concern over how budgetary lines for specialised federal agencies are sometimes used to fund projects outside their primary mandates, a pattern that continues to draw attention from civil society groups and lawmakers scrutinising the passage of the Appropriation Bill.

Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters