NU Congress Demands Education Budget No Longer Used for Free Nutritious Meals from 2027

Jakarta – The 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress has urged the government to stop using the education budget to finance the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme starting from the 2027 fiscal year. The recommendation was delivered by Commission C of Bahtsul Masail Qanuniyah during Plenary Session 3 of the 35th NU Congress, held at the Multipurpose Building of Bahrul ’Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Tambakberas, Jombang, on Saturday afternoon (29/8/2026). NU also urged the government not to delay implementation of the provision until 2028.

Katib Syuriyah of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Salahudin al-Aiyub, presented the report on the outcomes of Commission C’s deliberations on behalf of Commission C Coordinator KH Abdul Ghofur. The report was subsequently received by the Chair of Plenary Session 3 of the 35th NU Congress, Prof M Nuh, who also serves as Chair of the Steering Committee of the 35th NU Congress.

In its deliberations, Commission C highlighted the provision stipulating that education budget allocation is set at 20 per cent of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN). According to Commission C, the implementation of the education budget remains suboptimal. One particular concern is the use of the education budget to finance the MBG programme.

Commission C referred to Constitutional Court (MK) Ruling Number 40/PUU-XXIV/2026, which states that the education budget may not be used for the MBG programme. On the basis of that ruling, the 35th NU Congress, through Commission C of Bahtsul Masail Qanuniyah, recommended that the government begin implementing it in the 2027 fiscal year.

“We recommend that the government implement the Constitutional Court ruling on MBG in the 2027 fiscal year, without waiting until 2028,” said Salahudin al-Aiyub while presenting Commission C’s report. The recommendation was framed within the context of state budget management, or siyasah maliyah.

In addition to calling for the implementation of the Constitutional Court ruling on MBG, Commission C also formulated a number of limitations, or dhawabith, in the formulation of state budget policy, particularly with regard to the education sector. According to Commission C, state budget management must be oriented towards public benefit and justice. Its use must also take into account the principles of efficiency and priority scale.

In its deliberations, Commission C emphasised the importance of the principle of al-aham fal-aham, namely prioritising the more important matters based on the scale of needs.