Nasarawa Governor Sule Urges National Assembly to Ban Almajiri System Nationwide

Abdullahi Sule has called on the National Assembly to enact legislation banning the Almajiri system across Nigeria, arguing that it has contributed significantly to the growing number of out-of-school children and worsening insecurity in the northern region.

The governor made the appeal on Thursday while speaking at the Summit on Enhancing Human Capital Development in Northern Nigeria, held in Abuja.

Addressing participants at the summit, Sule said the country could no longer afford to ignore the challenges posed by the Almajiri system, which he linked to educational deprivation, poverty and the recruitment of vulnerable children into criminal activities.

According to him, many children who eventually become involved in banditry and other forms of insecurity originated from the Almajiri system due to a lack of formal education, adequate care and economic opportunities.

Sule stressed that addressing Nigeria’s education crisis would require a coordinated effort involving political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders across northern Nigeria.

He disclosed that Nasarawa State alone has about 430,000 out-of-school children, describing the figure as a serious concern that requires urgent intervention.

The governor also recalled the 2020 repatriation of Almajiri children carried out by the governments of Nasarawa and Kaduna State, noting that while such enforcement measures were necessary, they could only achieve lasting results if supported by sustainable alternatives.

To address the challenge, Sule proposed replacing the Almajiri system with compulsory formal education complemented by vocational and skills acquisition programmes that would equip children with practical knowledge and improve their future prospects.

He urged leaders across northern Nigeria to ensure that discussions at the summit result in concrete legislative proposals and policy reforms capable of tackling the root causes of poverty, insecurity and poor educational outcomes.

According to the governor, meaningful reforms in the education sector remain essential to improving human capital development, reducing the number of out-of-school children and promoting long-term peace and economic growth across the region.