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Tag: Ministry of Education

  • No nationwide closure of schools, says Fed Govt

    No nationwide closure of schools, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports on nationwide closure of schools in the country from Monday. 

    A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Folasade Boriowo, on Saturday said the message circulating on social media platforms was false, misleading, and did not originate from the Federal Government or the ministry. 

    The statement reads: “The Federal Ministry of Education hereby informs the general public that a message currently circulating on social media platforms, alleging that schools nationwide have been directed to close from 24th November 2025, is false, misleading, and did not originate from the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, any State Ministry of Education or any recognised security agency.

    “The public is strongly advised to rely strictly on verified information issued through the following official channels:

    The Federal Government

    The Federal Ministry of Education

    State Governments and State Ministries of Education

    Recognised security agencies

    “Any announcement, advisory, or notice coming from unofficial or unverified sources should be ignored and not shared. Members of the public are urged to always verify the authenticity of information before circulating it in order to curb the spread of misinformation.”

  • Reports on scrapping JSS, SSS not true – FG

    Reports on scrapping JSS, SSS not true – FG

    The Ministry of Education on Friday clarified that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, merely proposed the introduction of a 12-year basic education system.

    The ministry stated that reports of an immediate policy change on the matter were untrue.

    In a statement by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry emphasised that the National Council on Education would review the proposal before any final decision is made.

    “At the Extraordinary National Council on Education Meeting held on 6 February 2025 in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, presented a proposal for discussion — not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to transition to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.

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    “A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing students to progress seamlessly without external assessments at that stage. However, this remains subject to further consultation and deliberation.

    “To ensure a well-informed decision, the ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players. The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the National Council on Education meeting in October 2025.

    “The ministry urges the public to disregard false claims that JSS and SSS have been scrapped. The Federal Government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.”

  • JUST IN: FG suspends accreditation of degree certificates from Benin, Togo varsities

    JUST IN: FG suspends accreditation of degree certificates from Benin, Togo varsities

    The federal government has announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo.

    In a statement signed on Tuesday, January 2, by Augustina Obilor-Duru on behalf of the Director Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, the federal government lamented that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.”

    The statement noted that the suspension followed an investigative report by an online newspaper, which unravelled a Cotonou-based University, which issued a degree certificate to an undercover Journalist within six weeks.

    The government said the suspension will remain in place pending the outcome of an investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria and the two countries as well as the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    The statement reads in parts; “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to the commendable work of investigative journalism that led to the publication by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper dated 30th December 2023 titled “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC scheme.

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    “This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.

    “The Federal Ministry of Education vehemently decries such acts and with effect from 2nd January 2024 is suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries as well the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).”

    The Ministry also said it has commenced internal administrative processes to determine the culpability or otherwise of her staff for which applicable Public Service Rules would be applied.

    “The issue of degree mills institutions, i.e institutions that exist on paper or operate in clandestine manner outside the control of regulators is a global problem that all countries grapple with.

    “FME has been contending with the problem including illegal institutions located abroad or at home preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who deliberately patronize such outlets.

    Periodically, warnings have been issued by the Ministry and NUC against the resort to such institutions and in some instances, reports made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators.

    “The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loopholes, processes and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officials,” the statement added.

  • 2019 Budget: Reps to meet Ministers over errors in figures

    The House of Representatives would meet with the Finance, Budget and National Ministers as well as the Director General (DG) of the National Budget Office over fundamental errors in figures in the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

    This is as Speaker Yakubu Dogara resisted attempt to shelve the debate once again after Rita Orji (PDP, Lagos) raised a point of order that the number of lawmakers on the floor did not meet the required number for a quorum for plenary.

    The Speaker said since she has no knowledge of the number of lawmakers on the register, it will be impossible for her to know if the floor meets the quorum requirement, adding that the physical presence of members on the floor is not the deciding factor.

    The debate of the bill was twice put off due to the same reason of errors in figures and need for members to have enough time to go through it for informed constitutions to the debate.

    However, when the debate commenced, Chika Adamu (APC, Niger) noted that proposed allocations to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Budget Office and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation under main statutory components did not correspond with the total summary in the document.

    As a result, he requested if contributions to the debate could continue or be restricted to the general principles of the bill.

    In his contribution, Ahman Pategi (PDP, Kwara) explained that the difference in figures could be down to typographical error because all allocations figures were correct except in the summary section.

    He suggested that the leadership of appropriate Committee of the House should meet with the leadership of the affected agencies to sort it out.

    He also noted that the figures could be corrected when the bill gets to the Committee stage where thorough scrutiny of the document would be done.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara went into discussion with the Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun and others after which he announced that the debate would continue.

    He said the irreconcilable figures in the document meant contributions would be restricted to the general principles while the leader of the Appropriation and Finance Committee would meet the Finance and Budget and Planning Ministries and the Budget Office.

    He said the outcome of the meeting, with the correct figures, would be provided before the conclusion of debate on the 2019 Appropriation Bill on Thursday.

    Earlier, in his contribution, Deputy Speaker Lasun said it has become extremely important for Nigerians to realize the economic status of the country in comparison to other economies.

    He said the size of the 2019 budget in actual sense, compared to the population does not portray the country as rich with the N8.83 trillion budget being just about $10b.

    According to him, when spread around the population, what is spent by the government on an individual is disheartening and as such it has become necessary for the government and the populace to explore other sustainable alternatives to fund the economy.

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    The Deputy Speaker also noted that the dwindling contribution of oil revenue to the 2019 budget going down to about 67 percent, the government and the populace must be forced to explore other means of funding and sustaining the economy.

    Lasun, who appealed for a speedy passage of the Bill also drew attention to poor implementation of budgets, which he said should be critically looked into, as well as a need to decide the type of budgeting system the country should adopt.

    He said policy somersault once one is adopted should be avoided, “Because we have seen how the various models we adopted in the past have not really worked.

    “It time for us to think out of the box. Maybe if we had stuck to one, appreciable economic progress would have been recorded over the years. We also have to look at whether the size of our budget can sustain a meaningful development.

    “I will, however, appeal to the Executive to try as much as possible to implement this budget,” he added.

  • Birth registration first step to legal identity – NPoPc

    The National Population Commission (NPoPc) says birth registration is the first step in securing legal identity.

    The Director, Public Affairs Department of the commission, Mr Mohammed Isah, said this in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    Isah urged Nigerians to register and obtain a birth certificate, saying that there is no better identity than birth registration.

    He stated that the only valid instrument attached to a child after names were given was birth registration and certificate.

    Isah underscored the need for awareness as lot of Nigerians did not understand the benefits of birth and death registration, hence the campaign.

    Read Also: Birth registration: Beyond rhetorics

    According to him, NPopC has been in partnership for over a decade with UNICEF and also collaborating with other sectors such as the Primary Health Care Development Agency and Ministry of Education to scale up the registration process.

    He said that “We (NPopC) have less than 4,000 centers to help launch the campaign on birth registration and educate the public on the importance of it.

    “The activities of the commission are limited due to lack of personnel and fund.’’

    The director explained that birth registration helped in securing and accessing basic rights such as education, health and social protection.

    He also noted that birth certificate provided the documentary evidence required for relevant occasions like school enrollment, graduation, voting as well as rights to be voted for, inheritance, obtaining an international passport and drivers licence.

    Isah further emphasized that birth and death certificates also provide legal evidence to claim a property, insurance benefits of deceased persons as well as rights of serving spouses to remarry.

    According to him, data gathered through civil registration and vital statistics will help create accurate assessments of economic growth and poverty levels of a society as well as means of measuring global targets.

    The director said that Civic Registration and Vital statistics (CRVS) was therefore a high priority for supporting human rights, policy planning and good governance.

  • FG launches 2017/2018 annual school census

    FG launches 2017/2018 annual school census

    The Ministry of Education on Tuesday launched the 2017/2018 Annual School Census, aimed at solving the problem of out-of-school children.

    The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said at the ceremony in Abuja that the census was designed to obtain the accurate number of schools and validate the figures.

    The theme of the launch is “Making Every Learner’s Environment Count: A Panacea for the Dearth of Empirical Education Data and as a way of solving the problem of out-of-school Children Syndrome in Nigeria”.

    The minister said that five states had already been mapped and placed on the website www.nemis.gov.ng for accessibility by all.

    “Imo, Edo, Ondo, Kogi and Taraba states have keyed into this initiative and we hope all states will key into this exercise and link up so that our data could be validated promptly.’’

    He said the launch signalled the simultaneous commencement of the enumeration of all schools, pupils, teachers and facilities at the basic and post-basic levels in the 36 states and FCT.

    “The conduct of the Annual School Census is in line with the provision of the Nigeria Education Management Information System Policy of 2007 which provides for the collection of education data beginning from the school.

    “Thus, the Education Management Information System processes have since 2009 been decentralised to the states in order to enhance efficiency in the collection, collation, management and dissemination of credible, reliable and timely data in Nigeria.

    He added that the ministry, through NEMIS, would coordinate and monitor the process, while states would conduct the exercise.

    The minister called for cooperation and full participation of the military, paramilitary, private schools, almajari centres and integrated Quranic schools in the exercise.

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Sonny Echono, urged federal and states education ministries as well as development partners to organise training on school records keeping for head teachers and principals.

    He said that the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, had organised trainings on school records keeping in 27 States and the FCT.

    He said the training would continue until all school heads in the basic and post basic levels were trained and cascaded to other teachers in the system.

    He, therefore, urged states to take the exercise serious collect more accurate and reliable data.

    Also, Mr Adebayo Solomon, Education Specialist and Consultant at the World Bank, stressed the need to improve data collection mechanism in the country.

    Solomon said that the 611 million-dollar project targets the utilisation of 90 per cent of the money to ensure the return of children to school, adding that it would last for five years.

    NAN

  • Worker held for stealing trailer-load of textbooks

    Worker held for stealing trailer-load of textbooks

    The police in Cross River State have arrested an employee of the Ministry of Education for allegedly conspiring with others  to steal a trailer load of textbooks, worth millions of naira.

    Police Commissioner Hafiz Inuwa told reporters in Calabar that  the textbooks belonged to the ministry.

    Inuwa said the suspect was arrested on the  Ikom-Ogoja highway enroute Lagos.

    He added that the suspect was arrested with the driver and a Lagos-based businessman.

    “The items included  cartons of  French, Christian Religious Knowledge, Physical Education, Welding and Technical drawing textbooks, belonging to the state government,’’ Inuwa said.

    He said the police discovered a shady deal between some ministry workers and  their accomplices to dispose off the materials.

    The commissioner added that the suspect confessed to the crime and would be arraigned in court.

  • Illegal fees collection: Edo reads riot act to principals

    Illegal fees collection: Edo reads riot act to principals

    …To remove illegal buildings on school land from Dec. 1

     

    The Edo State Government has read the riot act to principals of public schools who have been collecting illegal fees from students for the purchase of uniforms and other items.

    The government also gave a December 1 deadline to owners of illegal buildings and structures on the premises or lands of public schools, to vacate such premises.

    A statement issued by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dr. Christopher Adesotu, explained that “the only fees approved by the Edo State government for the purchase of school uniforms are as follows: Junior Secondary School Students – ₦3,500 only and Senior Secondary School Students – ₦4,000 only.”

    Adesotu said that “any payment requested outside the stated amounts is illegal and the principals involved will face severe sanctions.”

    He advised parents to adhere to the approved levies for uniforms and report any request for additional fees promptly to the Hon. Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education for immediate action.

    Commissioner for Orientation and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, said the illegal occupation of lands allocated to public schools in the state was hindering the state government’s ongoing school remodeling project.

    He emphasised that the state government’s policy to develop and remodel all public schools to meet modern standard is being implemented and “any structure or building that will render this lofty goal difficult or impossible, would not be tolerated.”

  • School Leaders Association to hold convention

    The annual convention of The School Leaders Association has been scheduled to hold on September 2, 2017 in Lagos.

    The convention which has as theme, ‘’School Development,” and seeks to bring together players in the education system in Nigeria will hold at Oak Hotel, Chevron Drive, Lekki.

    Mrs Ronke Soyombo, Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education is to speak on Quality Control.

    Other speakers are: Mrs Kehinde Nwani, Chief Executive Officer, Meadow Hall Group (Curriculum Standards), Mrs Adesina Adeyoyin, Chief Executive Officer, Corona Schools’ (Parent Communication), Mrs Joy Isa, Head of Junior School, Children’s International School (Staff Development) and Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Chief Executive Officer, Leading Learning Limited (Outreach programs).

  • Joke Silva, Kunle Afolayan, inaugurated into Lagos Board of Arts & Culture

    Joke Silva, Kunle Afolayan, inaugurated into Lagos Board of Arts & Culture

    …Begins construction of Six new Arts Theatres

    ​

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday inaugurated a Board of Arts and Culture, urging them to go all out and explore private sector support to nurture new talents and generate events for a sustainable development of the creative arts sector in the State.

    The Governor, who spoke at the inauguration of the Board at the Banquet Hall, Lagos State, said that though the State Government in the last 23 months has covered a lot of ground in terms of design and structure of the arts and entertainment sector, so much still needed to be done if it must realise its goal to become a global hub for music, theatre and film.

    “The commitment of our administration to harness the huge creative talents that abound in the State in the fields of Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Sports has never been in doubt. The ultimate goal is to use all of these to drive tourism, create employment and increase the contribution of the non-oil sector to the State’s gross domestic product.

    “The Council for Arts and Culture which we have just inaugurated has a huge responsibility to translate our vision in this regard to reality,” the Governor said.

    Governor Ambode said the Board would among other things, be expected to ensure the sustainable management of arts and culture facilities and infrastructures in the State and create a sustainable framework for the sector.

    While urging the Board to generate local and international events to showcase and promote the State’s diverse talents in the field of creative arts, music, entertainment and sports, he tasked them to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage while being sensitive to the diverse cultures of the citizens of the State.

    He said the State was currently leading the initiatives to transform the National Museum and the iconic National Arts Theatre into world class centres of history, tourism arts and entertainment, while construction work on the six arts theatres across the state has began in earnest.

    Besides, Governor Ambode said that in recognition of the enormous responsibilities the Board would be saddled with, his administration ensured that only seasoned professionals, notable and respected personalities were chosen to serve on the council.

    Members of Board include, arts enthusiast, Mrs. Polly Alakija as Chairman, with veteran thespian, Joke Silva, multiple award winning actor and movie producer, Kunle Afolayan, influential visual artist, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo and  foremost artist and designer, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye as members.

    Other members include, Mobee of Badagry, High Chief Patrick Yodenu Mobee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Adeyemi and Director of Culture at the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Saidat Otulana.

    He said the inauguration of the Board, coming on the heels of the 50-day event countdown of the State’s Golden Jubilee celebration, showed the total commitment of his administration to put the arts and culture sector in the right perspective.

    “We will continue to provide a conducive environment for a private sector-led development as a strategy towards actualizing our vision. While we will intervene where and when necessary to support this development strategy, it will be the responsibility of this distinguished Council to seek and explore private sector support to nurture new talents and generate events for a sustainable development of the creative arts sector in the State,” he said.

    Governor Ambode also thanked members of the Board for accepting to serve the State especially the Chairman, Mrs. Polly Alakija, whom according to him, is well revered for her commitment to the arts and selfless service to the society.

    Speaking on behalf of the new appointees, Mrs. Polly Alakija thanked Governor Ambode for reposing confidence on her and other Board members, assuring that they would stop at nothing to make great impact in the lives of young people through arts, culture and creative sector.

    She also assured of the commitment of the Board to explore all areas of possibilities to achieve the set out objectives to make the arts and entertainment sector evolve as a revenue generating mechanism for the State.