Muslim Group Writes Buhari, Demands Creation Of Almajiri Commission

A group linked to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) which is led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari to request the establishment of the ‘Commission of Almajiri/Tsangaya Qur’anic Education Affairs’ in the country.

The group, known as the Assembly of Muslims in Nigeria (AMN), said if established, the Commission would help to carry out a “radical overhaul” of the Almajiri system of Quranic education and take children in northern Nigeria off the streets.

The group’s demand was contained in the letter dated June 8, 2020, and signed by its chairman, Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini, who also doubles as the Chairman, Fatwa Committee of the NSCIA.

AMN also copied the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all state governors, the Sultan of Sokoto, among others, in the letter.

The latter reads in part: “Your Excellency, this recommendation became necessary in view of the recent, unfortunate action by some Northern State Governors that led to the forceful repatriation of Almajiris. This unpleasant and unguided repatriation has resulted in very unpleasant consequences on the children, their parents and the communities they come from. There is no doubt that the Almajiri system of Quranic education requires a radical overhaul. This may be necessary, at least to ward off excessive genuine criticisms against the practice.

“Every well-meaning Nigerian agreed that under-aged children in local Qur’anic schools are being exposed to all kinds of dangers through their roaming about in the streets – day and night – begging for food or money. This begging has become persistent over the last few decades to the detriment of the children’s educational pursuits. It is the right of every child in this country to receive formal basic education as well as moral and religious education, even if through non-formal school system.

“Your Excellency, non-formal religious education, as you know, has been in this country for more than 1,000 years. The colonial administration met this education system in existence in the Northern parts of the country. They also met an organized system of governance, judiciary, internal affairs and general native administration. That system was ran by products of Almajiri school system which was effectively and efficiently working. The products of that school system who managed the various native administration activities were using Arabic language in handling foreign affairs matters, and used Ajmi script to communicate locally. Teachers of the Almajiri school system in the pre-colonial era were fully sponsored by government and were highly regarded in the local communities. With the advent of the Western Education in Northern Nigeria, the Almajiri/Tsangaya system was pushed to a lower less important position in the affairs of government. This relegation persisted and that led to the present unpleasant state of affairs.

“Your Excellency, it is certainly not impossible not only to address the situation but to improve on the existing mode of practices and integrate the Almijiri schools fully in our Formal Education System. Your Excellency, we are quite ready and more than willing to offer your government the necessary advice through the appropriate body in order to actualize these recommendations if the need arises.”