In a significant move to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s higher education system, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has announced a directive requiring all federal universities, colleges, and polytechnics to publish key institutional data on their official websites starting immediately. This initiative aims to align Nigeria’s tertiary education management with global best practices.
Under this new directive, each institution must disclose specific financial information, including its Annual Budgetary Allocation. The budget must detail expenditures in three core areas: personnel costs, overhead costs, and capital expenditures. Furthermore, institutions are required to report their Research Grant Revenue from the previous year, separated by domestic and international sources. This includes funds from local industries, government agencies, as well as grants from international bodies and development partners.
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Additionally, schools must present their current TETFund Allocation, detailing the amount received from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for the current calendar year to support academic and infrastructural growth. Another important requirement is the disclosure of the total value of each institution’s Endowment Fund, which reflects the contributions made for the long-term financial stability of the institution. This figure should be updated quarterly for accuracy and transparency.
Moreover, institutions are instructed to publish their current Total Student Population, categorized into undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This data will provide insight into enrolment figures and overall capacity.
The Ministry of Education stresses that all published information must be clear, accessible, and user-friendly, making it easy for the public—including parents, students, and stakeholders—to find and understand the data. All federal institutions must ensure their websites are updated with this information by May 31, 2025.
To ensure compliance, the Federal Ministry of Education will conduct periodic reviews of institutional websites and may implement administrative actions against any institution that fails to comply. These reviews will help gauge adherence to the directive and guide policies aimed at furthering transparency.
This directive is part of a broader initiative to strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, enhance performance-based funding, and improve the country’s standing in global education rankings. The Honourable Minister of Education urges all heads of tertiary institutions to treat this requirement seriously, as it is a crucial step toward enhancing the integrity and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s education system.
