In a bold move to entrench transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Federal Government has directed all Vice-Chancellors of its universities, Rectors of Polytechnics, and Provosts of Colleges of Education to publish key institutional data on their official websites with immediate effect.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who gave the directive, emphasized the need to align Nigeria’s higher education management with global best practices. This directive was contained in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, in Abuja.
The statement highlighted that all affected federal institutions are expected to fully comply with the directive and ensure that their websites are completely updated no later than May 31, 2025.
According to the statement, each institution must provide its annual budgetary allocation in full detail, including breakdowns of expenditure across three core areas: personnel costs, overhead costs, and capital expenditure.
Additionally, institutions are required to disclose their Research Grant Revenue from the previous year, categorizing grants obtained from domestic bodies such as local industries, government agencies, or foundations separately from those received from international sources, including foreign institutions, multilateral organizations, and development partners.
The Minister also urged institutions to display the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Allocation for the current year, ensuring clarity on the total amount received from TETFund for academic and infrastructural development in the present calendar year.
“The directive further mandates institutions to publish the total value of their Endowment Fund as recorded at the end of the previous year. This figure, reflecting funds donated or invested for the institution’s long-term financial health, must be updated quarterly to ensure currency and transparency.
“Finally, institutions are to present their current Total Student Population categorized into undergraduate and postgraduate levels, providing a clear picture of enrollment and institutional capacity,” the statement added.
ALSO READ: Minning: Senate assures of enabling laws to protect investments
The Ministry of Education insisted that this information must be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format for public visibility. Websites should be structured to allow the public, including parents, students, and stakeholders, to easily locate and understand these data points.
“All federal institutions are expected to comply fully with this directive and ensure that their websites are completely updated no later than May 31, 2025.
“To ensure adherence, the Federal Ministry of Education will conduct periodic reviews of institutional websites and take appropriate administrative actions against non-compliant institutions.
“These reviews will gauge compliance and drive policy decisions that promote transparency.
“This policy is part of a broader reform initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in the nation’s tertiary institutions, enhancing performance-based funding, and improving Nigeria’s global education indices.
“The Honourable Minister of Education has called on all heads of tertiary institutions to treat this directive with the urgency and seriousness it demands, as it represents a critical step in collectively uplifting the integrity and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s education sector,” the statement concluded.
and then