Government faces backlash for spending N1.5 billion on religious centres Amid 820,000 out-of-school children crisis

The Jigawa State government, under the leadership of Governor Umar Namadi, has been criticized for allocating over N1.5 billion towards the construction and renovation of religious centres within three months. The expenditure comes at a time when the state grapples with a staggering number of out-of-school children, estimated at over 820,000.

The state’s “Third Quarter (July – September) 2024 Budget Performance Report,” published on the government’s website, revealed that N1,040,000,000 was spent on the construction of mosques and other religious structures in 2024, while another N458,470,310 was allocated for the completion of ongoing projects in the same category.

This development has drawn criticism from education advocates and concerned citizens. Jigawa, ranked as the fifth state in Nigeria with the highest number of out-of-school children, struggles with alarmingly low educational enrollment and performance rates.

Prior to this time, a survey undergone by the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) found that only 16.8% of children aged 3 to 18 are currently enrolled in school. Additionally, 44% of primary school-age children and 52% of secondary school-age children remain out of school.

The government’s decision to prioritize religious infrastructure over education has got Nigerians talking as critics argue that such spending reflects misplaced priorities in a state where the education sector is in dire need of funding.

“Who did this to us as a nation, this is why we are far behind in the world’s economic system” a resident of Jigawa stated. However,  many have called for a reallocation of resources to tackle the education crisis and provide opportunities for the hundreds of thousands of children denied access to schooling.