15 CSOs Want Staff of New Almajiri Commission Drawn from Existing MDAs

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

To cut overhead costs, 15 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have advised the federal government to draw the staffing of the new Almajiri Commission which seeks to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, from the civil service.

Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari had in the twilight of his administration, passed into law the establishment of the Almajiri National Commission which would provide multimodal system of education to tackle the menace of illiteracy among Nigeria’s children.
Led by the Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), the CSOs in a statement co-signed by 14 other groups in Abuja, stated that the establishment of the commission was a significant step forward for Nigeria’s underprivileged children.

The group urged the government to ensure that the commission remains focused on delivering real solutions to the problems faced by Almajiri and out-of-school children, rather than merely serving as another avenue for employment.

“As a collective, we suggest that the commission adopts a specific timeframe for its existence, enabling expeditious work and timely achievement of milestones.
“This time-bound approach will reinforce the urgency required to address the Almajiri issue and ensure that tangible outcomes are achieved within a specified period.

“We also suggest that staff of the commission should be drawn from existing MDAs and agencies to reduce overhead cost and to ensure effective utilisation of funds meant for real interventions,” it stated.
Furthermore, the CSOs called on governments at all levels to prioritise the issue of out-of-school children and fully implement the Child Rights Act to safeguard the rights and protection of both boys and girls.

“It is imperative that every child in Nigeria has access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances,” the coalition argued.
It stated that the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education was a significant milestone in Nigeria’s collective efforts to address the Almajiri issue in Nigeria.

While lauding all the stakeholders that worked towards ensuring the law was passed, for context, the group stated that a 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) report estimated that Nigeria had about 13.2 million out of school children after rising from 10.5 million in 2010.
Of this number it said that 69 per cent was estimated to be from Northern Nigeria. In addition, it estimated that that 9.5 million Almajiri reside across the country, with the highest concentration in the north, quoting the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as of 2010.

“The Almajiri children experience severe violations of their rights before and during their time on the streets and in the hands of their caregivers.
“They are faced with multiple deprivations including lack of access to basic services, violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as well as vulnerabilities to alcohol and substance abuse,” it said.