FEC Reintroduces Adult Literacy Commission, Imposes Six-Year Ban on New Private Varsities

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved a series of reforms in the education sector, including the restoration of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education as an independent body, a six-year moratorium on the establishment of new tertiary institutions, and the recognition of medical fellowships as equivalent to doctoral degrees.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Alausa said the Council approved the restoration of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education to its full status after it had earlier been downgraded to a department within the ministry.

According to him, the decision is part of the administration’s broader plan to tackle Nigeria’s literacy challenges and equip millions of citizens with digital and basic education skills.

“In view of Mr President’s expansive agenda to educate over 50 million young adults in the next two to three years and make them digitally literate, we sought the approval of the council to revert it back to a commission, which Mr President graciously approved,” he said.

The minister noted that Nigeria still faces a significant literacy gap, with tens of millions of citizens unable to read or write.

“Today, we have about 56 million Nigerians that are illiterate. We can’t continue to have a high number of citizens that are illiterate,” he said.

He explained that the commission, originally established in 2013, will intensify adult education programmes, particularly in rural communities, through initiatives involving radio and television campaigns, public advocacy and community learning centres.

Alausa also announced that the Council approved amendments to the National Postgraduate Medical College Act to recognise medical fellowship qualifications as equivalent to PhD degrees.

He said the proposed amendment, developed in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, aims to remove career barriers faced by highly specialised medical professionals.

According to the minister, many doctors spend more than a decade undergoing medical training, residency and fellowship programmes, yet still require a PhD to qualify for professorial appointments in universities.

“This set of people in the medical sector have spent more years than the average candidate who obtains a PhD, so we need to harmonise that,” he said.

Under the proposed reform, fellows of the National Postgraduate Medical College will have their qualifications recognised as equivalent to a doctoral degree once the executive bill is transmitted to and approved by the National Assembly.

The Council also approved a six-year moratorium on the establishment of new universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

Alausa said the measure is intended to improve the quality and sustainability of existing tertiary institutions, particularly private universities.

He noted that although demand for higher education remains high, many institutions are struggling with sustainability challenges.

“Today, access is not easy in the country. We have lots of tertiary institutions, both public and private, but we need to help these private institutions become financially sustainable,” he said.

The minister cited data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which showed that more than 2.3 million candidates applied for admission into universities last year, while public institutions had fewer than 228,000 available spaces.

He said the moratorium will allow the government to focus on strengthening existing institutions and improving the quality of education across the system.

Alausa also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to raising standards in Nigeria’s education sector.

“I am committed to ensuring that every single child and citizen of this country receives the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world,” he said.

In addition, the Council approved comprehensive insurance coverage for the country’s 180 Federal Unity Schools.

The approval includes the engagement of underwriters to provide fire and general insurance coverage for critical infrastructure and assets in the schools, as part of efforts to safeguard public educational facilities.