NAL condemns reversal of National Language Policy, warns Nigeria faces ‘cultural, educational backslide’

THE Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) has expressed displeasure over the recent decision of the National Council on Education (NCE) to cancel the National Language Policy (NLP 2022) and re-establish English as the sole medium of instruction at all levels of education in the country.

The decision was taken at the 69th NCE meeting held in Akure, Ondo State, from 3–6 November, 2025.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its President, Professor Andrew Haruna, the NAL described the action as “a setback with serious and far-reaching implications,” warning that the policy reversal undermines decades of advocacy for Nigeria’s linguistic development and contradicts global best practices in education.

The NLP 2022 was designed to promote mother-tongue-based multilingual education by ensuring that children receive instruction in the language of their immediate environment during their first six years of schooling.

The Academy noted that the policy was not an arbitrary creation but the outcome of more than 40 years of incremental decisions by the NCE supporting mother-tongue instruction.

NAL stressed that the policy emerged from rigorous research, broad consultations and expert contributions from scholars, educators and local communities across the country.

According to the statement, dismissing the policy “so glibly, without due regard for expert knowledge and public opinion, is utterly scornful of Nigerians and does not speak well of the government’s respect for evidence-based policymaking.”

The Academy also cited UNESCO guidelines and extensive international studies showing that learning in the mother tongue improves literacy, cognitive development, academic performance, cultural identity and social inclusion.

NAL referenced the pioneering Six-Year Ife Primary Education Study led by the late Professor Babs Fafunwa, which provided empirical evidence for the success of mother-tongue education.

It also highlighted the example of Bolivia, which transitioned from monolingualism to multilingual education and was subsequently declared illiteracy-free by UNESCO.

“Similarly, Ghana, having studied Nigeria’s model, has recently adopted a multilingual education framework.

“It is ironic that while other African countries such as Ghana are following Nigeria’s lead, Nigeria is reversing a policy it has not even implemented,” the statement added.

NAL further clarified that an approved implementation framework already exists, contrary to assumptions expressed by the Minister of Education.

The Academy warned that cancelling the NLP 2022 could erode Nigeria’s cultural foundation and weaken social cohesion.

The decision, it said, risks marginalising minority language speakers, contradicts constitutional provisions supporting mother-tongue instruction and revives colonial-era attitudes toward linguistic domination.

“A country that deprives its young ones of education in their mother tongue has denied them access to the deepest and most authentic sources of knowledge. To sever learners from their mother tongue is to impoverish their intellectual and imaginative potential,” the statement cautioned.

NAL also questioned the urgency behind the minister’s call for the policy reversal, especially since the policy has not yet been implemented.

Insisting that mother-tongue education is essential for educational excellence, the Academy maintained that the problem lies not in the policy itself but in the lack of commitment to its implementation.

Eliminating Nigerian languages from the curriculum, the Academy said, would weaken the intellectual foundation of Nigerian children, undermine cultural identity and jeopardize long-term socio-cultural development.

NAL outlined clear steps for government, civil society, the media and international partners, calling on government to reinstate the NLP 2022, retain Nigerian languages in the national curriculum, invest in teacher training and teaching materials and collaborate with experts for phased implementation.

It urged the civil society and non-governmental organisations to advocate linguistic rights and hold authorities accountable.

Media and public intellectuals, NAL said, should drive public awareness and robust debate on multilingual education, while urging international partners to support Nigeria in aligning with UNESCO standards.

“Silence is not an option. Protecting our languages and promoting mother-tongue education is a national responsibility and a moral obligation to current and future generations,” the statement emphasised.

NAL reaffirmed its willingness to work with the Federal Government, the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), educational institutions and communities across the country to preserve Nigeria’s linguistic heritage while equipping learners for global competitiveness.

The statement declared that every Nigerian child deserves to learn, think and innovate from the solid foundation of their own language and culture.