• In 2024, appointment crisis, unions’ agitation, unaccessed UBEC funds, IPOB, admission age limit identified as booby traps to sector
By Gabriel Dike and Fred Ezeh, Abuja
It was not a rosy year for the education sector in 2024. The sector witnessed some turbulent moments that, perhaps, redefined the sector and its managers.
Stakeholders in the beginning didn’t predict 2024 because there were several happenings that were not anticipated by major players in the sector at the state and federal levels.
At the Federal Ministry of Education, there was a change of guard that slowed down activities for a few weeks. On October 23, 2024, President Bola Tinubu sacked Prof. Tahir Mamman as MinisterofEducation. Dr. Tanko Sununu, Minister of State, was redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
Two permanent secretaries passed through the ministry in 2024, the third one is still serving. A few weeks ago, a “trainee-permanent secretary” was sent to the ministry to “understudy” the current Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, who might be retiring in the first quarter of 2025.
First, it was Mr. Daniel Adejoh’s, whose time as Permanent Secretary ended in January 2024. Mrs. Didi Wilson-Jack took over immediately, but a few months later, she was appointed Head of Service of the Federatiion. Immediately, Gwarzo was redeployed to the ministry.
All these leadership changes affected the smooth operations of the ministry. Aside from policy changes that usually accompany such decisions, times were spent at the “learning curve,” which affects the overall performance and implementation of policies in the ministry.
Sadly, while efforts were being made for a major transformation in the education sector, parasatals and agencies under the ministry were found wanting. Some recorded milestones, while others had abysmal performances, practically on “official slumber.”
National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC)
NMEC was top on the list. The Commission was one of the most “unproductive” agencies. Year in, year out, little or no contribution is made by the commission to the education sector.
Investigation revealed that the commission only looked forward to every September 8 for World Literacy Day and thereafter, returned to its shell, while workers continue to draw salaries and allowances.
Even in its primary responsibility of mass literacy and adult education, the commission seems to have failed, as there’s no pointer or data to how many people it has pulled out of illiteracy on monthly or annual basis.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, should consider the commission for more productive engagements.
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
NBTE is another “unproductive” agency. As a regulatory body for technical colleges in Nigeria, particularly polytechnics and Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs), NBTE completely went on deep “official slumber” in 2024, and this made it possible for more fraudsters to invade the unprotected space defrauding students through the operation of satellite campuses for polytechnics.
Operations of satellite campuses for tertiary institutions were banned in 2019 by the Federal Government. Yet, the operators are engaging in their fraudulent activities unchecked, allegedly with the aid of some NBTE officials.
At a particular location in Abuja, an acclaimed consultant operated satellite campuses for more than four different institutions, defrauding thousands of innocent students of their fortunes with the promise of “certificate,” including NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)
Despite the quiet exit of Prof. Josaih Ajiboye, as Registrar, the council still recorded some significant achievements in 2024. It continued to sanitise the teaching profession, making it a noble profession that could attract the best brains.
It strongly demonstrated that the era of teaching being an all comers’ affair is over and that any teacher found in the classroom must be certified and registered with the council for proper monitoring.
In 2024, the council conducted its routine Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) for thousands of already practising teachers across the country. Similarly, examination was conducted for graduate-teachers in schools, which was a gateway to their registration and certification.
POQ has become mandatory for all teachers and graduate-teachers to get certified by TRCN before they venture into the teaching profession.
National Library of Nigeria (NLN)
NLN celebrated its 60th anniversary in September, 2024, which provided the opportunity to highlight some of its achievements in the past six decades.
National Librarian, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, said the major achievement was the digitisation of library activities in offices and branches of NLN, thus making the literary and intellectual materials easily accessible to the public from any part of the world
She disclosed that 1,000,574 International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN), as well as 27,755 International Serials Number (ISSN), were issued out since inception in 1976:
“NLN has preserved over five million titles in over 13 million volumes of resources stored in various locations in the country inclusive of 2.5 million titles and 7.5 million volume resources of Nigerian origin.”
The dream of completing the national headquarters of NLN located at Central Business District, Abuja, wasn’t achieved in 2024. Mamman after touring the project in August 2023, promised that the building abandoned for over 17 years would be completed in the next 21 months.
He said that all stakeholders met to iron out all grey areas to enable the commencement and completion of the project within 21 months. That promise remains unfulfilled.
Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)
Few weeks to the end of the year, a new Executive Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Garba, replaced Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, who ran the affairs of the commission since August 2, 2016.
The major task ahead of her is the issue of accumulated un-accessed funds for state governments running into billions of naira.
A few weeks ago, UBEC released some disturbing reports that over N135billion is in its account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) waiting for the concerned state governments to do the needful, and access them for the development of their basic education system.
The report generated national discussions with different people accusing state governments of unseriousness in developing the basic education system which could have helped to, significantly, reduce the growing number of out-of-school children.
Bobboyi told the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education that 34 states and the FCT were yet to access the 2024 UBE matching grant due to the inability to provide their counterpart fund.
National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
Not much was heard from NABTEB in 2024. However, it was gathered that it conducted different NABTEB examinations successfully.
National Examination Council (NECO)
NECO in 2024 successfully conducted all its examinations using improved technologies and innovations. It announced an end to examination registration by proxy which, it said, was usually done by school owners, lesson centre operators and some others at higher cost, and along the line cause some unnecessary confusion for the candidates and the examination body, in addition to cases of identity theft and subsequent parade of fake results.
Also, NECO accredited more foreign schools in Niger Republic and Equitorial Guinea, in addition to existing schools in Benin Republic, Togo, Cote’d Ivoire and Saudi Arabia, to participate in its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
NECO Registrar, Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, said: “The target is to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for students worldwide to benefit from its expertise, thus contributing to the advancement of education in Africa and beyond.”
National Secondary Schools Education Commission (NSSEC)
Not much was heard from NSSEC in 2024. However, its Executive Secretary, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, said: “The commission has successfully developed a National Policy on Senior Secondary Education accompanied by implementation guidelines.
“The policy is designed to provide a comprehensive framework and guidelines for the operation of senior secondary education in the country.”
National Universities Commission (NUC)
Chris Maiyaki has piloted the affairs of NUC since the resignation of Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, as the Executive Secretary in June 2023. Within the period, some new institutions were licensed, while regular monitoring and accreditations were done on institutions.
Generally, NUC has been fulfilling its obligations to the education sector, particularly the Nigerian University System (NUS).
It’s expected that its new Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, will improve on what is already on ground.
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
JAMB has a controversial-free 2024. Over 1.8 million candidates registered for the 2024 UTME.
But it came under serious public backlash over the decision that candidates under the age of 18 won’t be allowed to participate in UTME.
Three candidates, Olowo Joseph Olowasijibomi, who hails from Ondo State, but sat for 2024 UTME in Plateau State; Alayande David, from Oyo but sat for the UTME in Kaduna and Orukpe Joel Ehijele from Edo State, emerged joint best candidates in the 2024 UTME. The candidates scored 367 each to emerge joint-best candidates.
They were closely followed by Emmanuel Jeremiah Jewel (366 ) who hails from Akwa Ibom State but sat for UTME in Rivers State as first runners-up and Essiet Etini Joshua; Ezenwoko Zara Valerie and Umoh Joshua Augustine, who scored 365 each as second runners-up.
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
It was bumper harvest year for TETFund. It had the highest collection in a fiscal year. It announced that the education tax revenue has hit N1.5 trn. This was because education tax was increased to three per cent from hitherto 2.5 per cent.
Its Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, said: “Revenue generated from education tax is expected to play a significant role in maintaining and improving the infrastructure of the institutions, enhancing academic programmes and promoting accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds.”
Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund)
In July, President Tinubu launched the student loan scheme and approved N35bn as its take-off grants. NELFund was given the mandate to implement the programme.
At the beginning of the programme, there was doubts and mistrust, as well as scepticism in the genuineness of the intervention. This forced NELFund Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, to embark on nationwide sensitisation. The result was evident in the increased number of applicants
As of November, data from NELFund indicated that over N104billion was disbursed to over 613,000 students in public tertiary institutions.
National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)
NCCE was actively engaged in education policies and programmes in 2024. This was a clear departure from what was obtained in the past where the officials practically embarked on “official slumber.”
Its Executive Secretary, Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, ensured minimum standard was maintained in Colleges of Education (CoEs). He took steps to digitalise activities at the NCCE, as well as courses that would redefine teacher-training opportunities.
As his tenure is coming to an end soon, he has continued to focus on stronger monitoring of activities of colleges, beam searchlight on unregistered colleges operating in different locations in the country and accreditation of courses.
National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE)
Executive Secretary, NCNE, Prof. Bashir Usman made efforts towards promoting peaceful co-existence among farmers and herders.
With the launch of Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, observers suggested that NCNE work closely with the ministry to ensure collective result that would guarantee peaceful co-existence among farmers/herders, as well as growing the value chain of livestock.
National Education Research and Development Council (NERDC)
Tragedy befell NERDC in July, 2024 when its Executive Secretary, Prof Ismail Junaidu died during meeting in Yobe State. His last major task was the development of a roadmap that would guide the activities in the education sector.
A few weeks ago, Tinubu appointed Salisu Shehu to replace Junaidu. He was instrumental in establishing the School of Continuing Education, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and former Vice-Chancellor, Al-Istiqamah University, Kano.
National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children
The commission established to tackle the menace of almajiri and out-of-school children is still struggling to meet the target even though it claimed that some progress has been made.
Issues that shaped education in 2024
One major in the sector in 2024 was the selection crisis at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, of the vice chancellor and registrar, which led to the dissolution of the governing council, sack of Dr. Bernard Odoh and the registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike.
At the University of Abuja, ASUU members swept the footprints of the outgone VC, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, whose tenure ended after a protracted face-off with the union. NANS also accused him of adopting divide and rule strategy to weakened the Students Union leading to two factions.
There is an ongoing crisis over the selection process for a new VC. The union accused the governing council of trying to favour a particular candidate.
The union also stormed five public universities to demand for reinstatement of sacked union leaders and payment of the withheld salaries.
In November 2024, UBEC revealed that over N135billion are in its account domiciled at the CBN, waiting for the concerned state governments to access the funds for the development of basic education.
The commission said as of October 31, 2024, records indicated that the amount was the unaccessed matching grants, between 2020 and 2024 by 36 states and FCT.
Education minister, Alausa, dropped the idea to introduce age limit for admission into the universities by the former minister and his decision attracted commendations from parents.
The Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, witnessed a major crisis that consumed the Provost, Dr. Ademola Azeez. The staff unions passed a vote of no confidence on him, sealed his office and staged a series of protests on the campus. The students joined the crisis and also sacked the provost, who invited armed policemen. Several cars were damaged and over 32 students were arrested, detained and arraigned at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court. The governing council intervened and removed Azeez from the office.
A similar crisis that rocked UNIZIK is currently playing out at Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State. The governing council and ASUP are trading words over the appointment process for a new rector.
ASUP alleged the council did not follow due process before announcing the new rector. The crisis has divided the institution into two factions with several petitions before the Presidency and the Minister of Education.
ASUP, SSANU and NASU members embarked on strikes at different times in 2024 to press home the implementation of their outstanding demands and special the payment of the earned allowances and withheld salaries.
To avert a major industrial action in the nation’s tertiary institutions, the Federal Government reconstituted the renegotiation team to discuss with the various staff unions on their outstanding demands. The committee has started meeting with the staff unions.
The University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State, in August 2024, invalidated the certificates of 93 unqualified persons fraudulently included in the mobilisation portal of NYSC.
A statement from the UNICAL reads: “We call on ICPC to conclude its investigation to unravel what has remained a mystery to the management of the university as we strongly believe that invalidation of certificates or dekitting of these culprits alone will not unmask the faces behind this fraudulent act.’’
In November 2024, the Edo State Government unveiled Nigeria’s first Teachers’ Hall of Fame, as part of its recognition of the immense contributions of teachers to societal growth and well-being.
The state Ministry of Education said: “The mission of the Hall of Fame is to honour exceptional teachers, recognize their commitment to educational excellence, and restore the prestige of the teaching profession in Edo State.”
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, the Federal Government again showered prizes on Nigerian teachers to celebrate World Teachers Day.
They were rewarded with brand new cars, buses for schools, presidential recognition certificates and consolation prizes for the outstanding teachers courtesy of the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award (PTSEA).
Nwosu Joseph Afamefuna, from Government Technical College, Ogbaru, Anambra State, was announced as the best teacher in Nigeria. He was presented with a brand new car being the grand prize.
Dr. Sule Peace Salamatu, Akoka Junior High School, Lagos, emerged first runner-up, while Musa Yahaya, Sambo Dan-Ashafa Secondary School, Gusau, Zamfara State, emerged second runner-up.
LEA Gado Nasko Science Primary School, Gwagwalada, Abuja, emerged the best public primary school; Remo Junior Secondary School, Sagamu, Ogun State, emerged best public junior secondary school, while Jigawa State Academy for the Gifted, Bamaina, Birnin-Kudu, emerged best public senior secondary school.
A 17-year-old girl, formerly of Keke Senior High School, Ifako, Lagos, Esther Chioma Joseph, set new record in the 2024 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with 9As. Esther wants to study Medicine Surgery at the University of Ibadan. She scored 275 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In May 2024, over 300,000 students in the South East slept in their schools to write the May/June 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) General Mathematics 1 and 2. The five state governments, security agents and schools collaborated to ensure a near-hitch-free examination without any casualty.
Ahead of WASSCE, Director of Communication, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful, warned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) not to conduct any exam on May 30, being Biafra Heroes Day. It is also the day it enforces its sit-at-home order.
Last week, stakeholders expressed divergent views on N3.52trillion allocated to the sector for 2025. They acknowledged that the allocation is higher than what was approved in 2024.
No progress was made by the administration to address the issue of out-of-school children. Some lecturers were kidnapped and others killed by bandits or robbers.