Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Federal Government of allegedly inserting road projects worth billions of naira into the 2026 budget of  the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE).

Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, expressed concern that road construction, which  is outside the mandate of the commission, was allegedly inserted into the budget of the agency.

The former vice president said the National Assembly must explain to Nigerians how road projects found their way into the budget of the Almajiri commission.

Atiku, African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 presidential candidate, said it was a betrayal for the agency to be converted to a road contractor at a time 20 million Nigerian children who it is meant to serve are out of school.

According to him, “on  page 2236 of the Appropriation Act, 2026, under the budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education—an agency established to address the national emergency of millions of out-of-school children—the Tinubu administration inserted billions of naira for road construction projects that have absolutely nothing to do with the Commission’s statutory mandate.

“According to the budget, about N1.4 billion was earmarked for the rehabilitation and construction of Obasanjo-Itele Road, Nazareth Road Oke Ola, Imeko, Idogo Township Road and the construction of Odedeyo-Mewuro Road. Another N1.4 billion was budgeted for a road from Eyini High School to Lusada Junction Road, Ibooro, Idiya Central Community Road, Roundabout Abeokuta, Ile Ise Community Asuje Road and Soyote Community Road in Abeokuta.

“Yet another N1.05 billion was set aside for Pakuj-Yporan Township Road in Ipokia Ward 2, while an additional N1.05 billion was allocated for RCC Opposite Honda Agbebi Community Road and Ajuwon Baale Road. “The question that naturally arises is this: Since when did the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education become a road construction agency?

“At a time when over 20 million Nigerian children remain outside the classroom, when schools are collapsing under the weight of neglect and when the Almajiri crisis continues to threaten the future of an entire generation, the decision to convert an education commission into a contractor for road projects represents not merely a distortion of priorities but a cruel betrayal of the very children the Commission was created to serve.”

Atiku added that “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot claim ignorance of these developments. The budget is his budget. The Appropriation Act bears his signature. The agencies involved operate under his administration. “If billions of naira can be hidden under agencies with no legal mandate to execute such projects, then either the President approved these distortions or he was completely unaware of what was happening under his watch.