- Alausa Unveils 14-Month Education Reform Scorecard Under NESRI Agenda
- Rolls Out Reforms as 47 Federal Universities Join Transparency Portal
- FG Implements 40% Pay Rise for Varsity Lecturers
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has presented a comprehensive overview of reforms and programmes implemented under his leadership since assuming office on October 23, 2024.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the report, which outlines 14 months of policy interventions, centres on the Nigerian Education Sector Renewed Initiative (NESRI), a six-point reform agenda aimed at transforming Nigeria from a resource-driven economy to a knowledge-based society.
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According to the ministry, one of the most significant milestones in promoting stability within the tertiary education system is the formalisation of the agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which took effect on January 1, 2026.
The agreement introduces a 40 per cent increase in academic salaries, a revised remuneration structure, and a new professional allowance for full-time professors and readers. A similar framework for polytechnic lecturers is currently being developed.
To enhance transparency and accountability, the ministry launched the Federal Tertiary Institutions Governance Transparency Portal (FTIGTP), a digital platform tracking funding allocations and performance indicators. So far, 47 of 67 federal universities and 35 of 39 polytechnics have been integrated into the system.
In a bid to modernise learning, the ministry has deployed over 1,000 smart boards to federal and state basic education schools nationwide under the Digitisation of Public Schools Initiative.
Teacher development has also received attention through the introduction of Edurevamp, a mobile-based professional training platform. The programme has registered 37,000 teachers, with 18,000 fully enrolled for digital skills training and stipends. Additionally, a partnership with the UK-funded PLANE programme, alongside MTN and Airtel, will provide 8,000 teachers across the six geopolitical zones with zero-rated internet access to enhance classroom delivery.
As part of social intervention efforts aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the ministry launched a N2.55 billion menstrual health campaign titled “Flow with Confidence” in Gombe State. The initiative aims to distribute over one million sanitary pads to 370,000 girls in rural communities to reduce school absenteeism.
The ministry also secured a major scholarship partnership with the Dangote Foundation, targeting three million young Nigerians, including 170,000 girls and over one million students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM).
To cushion transportation costs for students, 240 electric tricycles and 12 solar-powered charging stations were distributed to 12 universities nationwide, a move projected to reduce campus transport expenses by up to 70 per cent.
On security, the ministry partnered with the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to introduce the School Safety Portal. The platform has registered 15,000 schools and geolocated 141,000 institutions to enable improved security monitoring and rapid response.
Under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, N2.97 billion in stipends has been disbursed to 160,000 youths, complemented by N4.6 billion allocated to skills training centres. Biometric Attendance Verification has also been introduced to ensure transparency in fund disbursement.
International collaboration has also featured prominently. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Birmingham under Nigeria’s Transnational Education framework to expand access to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in STEMM disciplines.
Furthermore, Dr Alausa recently held discussions in Singapore on strengthening technical education leadership and adopting global best practices for Nigeria’s TVET institutions.
The ministry reaffirmed that the NESRI six-point agenda remains its central focus, with the National Council on Education recently endorsing English as the language of instruction while suspending the previous National Language Policy to streamline curriculum delivery.
The report also disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI), launched a N50 million grant initiative to support mentorship and capacity building for tertiary students, attracting over 30,000 registrations since its introduction.
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