By Hussein Olanrewaju
Basic Rights Action (BRA) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged irregularities in the 2026 budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE).
In the petition dated September 28, 2026, BRA alleged that about ₦8.4 billion of the commission’s approximately ₦22.82 billion allocation was earmarked for road and other projects it considers outside the commission’s core educational mandate.
The group also called for an investigation into projects worth about ₦1.4 billion reportedly allocated to Ogun State/Ogun West and allegedly associated with constituency or intervention projects linked to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
BRA asked the ICPC to examine the budget-insertion process, procurement and payment records, identify contractors and beneficiaries, and determine whether any public official improperly influenced or benefited from the allocations.
It specifically requested an investigation into Adeola’s alleged involvement and called for his resignation as Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman pending investigation.
The organisation, however, stated that its petition was not intended to prejudge the outcome of an investigation, but to seek transparency, accountability and compliance with Nigerian law.
NCAOOSCE had previously explained that the disputed projects were constituency projects incorporated into the federal budget by the National Assembly and assigned to the commission for implementation.
BRA urged the ICPC to commence an independent investigation and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
