Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Federal Government of inserting about ₦4.9 billion worth of road projects into the 2026 budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.
Atiku described the allocations as evidence of budget manipulation and questioned why an agency created to address Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis was being made to fund road construction projects.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said the allocations were contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
“Since when did the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education become a road construction agency?” Atiku asked.
According to him, the commission’s budget includes about ₦1.4bn for the rehabilitation and construction of Obasanjo-Itele Road, Nazareth Road Oke Ola, Imeko, Idogo Township Road and Odedeyo-Mewuro Road.
He alleged that another ₦1.4bn was earmarked for the construction of Eyini High School-Lusada Junction Road, Ibooro, Idiya Central Community Road, Roundabout Abeokuta, Ile Ise Community Asuje Road and Soyote Community Road.
Atiku further claimed that ₦1.05bn was budgeted for Pakuj-Yporan Township Road in Ipokia Ward 2, while another ₦1.05bn was allocated for RCC Opposite Honda Agbebi Community Road and Ajuwon Baale Road.
He argued that at a time when millions of Nigerian children remain out of school, allocating funds under an education-focused commission for road projects amounted to a distortion of priorities.
“At a time when schools are collapsing under neglect and the Almajiri crisis continues to threaten the future of millions of children, converting an education commission into a contractor for road projects is a betrayal of its core mandate,” he said.
Atiku alleged that the allocations reflected a pattern of hiding questionable projects in agencies that attract limited public scrutiny.
He said the development should not be treated as an isolated mistake but as part of what he described as recurring budget padding and questionable insertions under the current administration.
The former vice president also linked the alleged budget irregularities to the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He referenced allegations by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of demanding payments linked to his purported appointment as Director-General of the disputed agency.
Atiku questioned why Adeyemi had not been prosecuted if government officials believed he had committed fraud.
“If he is truly the fraudster government spokespersons portray him to be, why has he not been arraigned before a competent court?” he asked.
Atiku said President Bola Tinubu could not distance himself from the controversy because the Appropriation Act bears his signature.
“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,” he said.
“The first possibility amounts to complicity. The second amounts to an absentee presidency.”
He called on the National Assembly to explain how the allocations passed legislative scrutiny.
Atiku also demanded a transparent and independent investigation into the alleged budget irregularities and the PFIPC controversy.
