Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has questioned the inclusion of ₦8.4 billion for road construction projects in the proposed 2026 budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children.
In a post shared on his verified X account on Monday, Shehu argued that the proposed allocations appear to be inconsistent with the commission’s statutory responsibilities.
According to him, the commission’s proposed budget for 2026 stands at ₦22.82 billion, with ₦8.4 billion reportedly set aside for road projects in Ekiti, Ogun and Katsina states.
He further claimed that the budget also contains allocations for solar power installations, hospital ambulances and medical equipment.
Describing the provisions as questionable, Shehu maintained that road construction and the procurement of healthcare-related facilities do not fall within the commission’s mandate, which is focused on addressing the challenges facing Almajiri and out-of-school children.
He argued that the commission’s policy framework is centred on educational and welfare interventions rather than infrastructure development.
The commentator also alleged that the disputed allocations were inserted into the budget through the actions of some politicians, whom he accused of abusing the budgeting process for personal interests.
The proposed 2026 federal budget has attracted increasing public scrutiny as stakeholders examine allocations to government ministries, departments, and agencies for possible inconsistencies and questionable expenditures. In recent years, concerns have repeatedly been raised over alleged budget insertions and projects considered unrelated to the statutory responsibilities of certain government institutions. The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children was established to develop policies and programmes aimed at reducing the number of Almajiri and out-of-school children through education, rehabilitation, and social intervention initiatives. Against this backdrop, reported allocations for road construction and other infrastructure projects in the commission’s proposed 2026 budget have sparked fresh debate over budget transparency, fiscal accountability, and adherence to the agency’s core mandate.
