FEC reinstates mass literacy commission, imposes six-year ban on new universities
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday endorsed wide-ranging reforms in the education sector, including reinstating the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education as a standalone agency, placing a six-year freeze on the creation of new tertiary institutions, and granting medical fellowship qualifications parity with doctoral degrees.
Speaking to reporters at the State House in Abuja after the meeting chaired by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the commission had been restored to its full status after previously operating as a department under the ministry.
He explained that the move aligns with the administration’s broader objective to significantly reduce illiteracy and equip more than 50 million young adults with basic and digital skills within the next few years.
According to the minister, Nigeria currently has about 56 million citizens who cannot read or write, a situation he described as unacceptable. Reviving the commission, first created in 2013, is expected to strengthen adult learning initiatives, particularly in rural areas, through expanded community learning centres, media campaigns, and public awareness programmes.
In another major decision, the Council approved amendments to the Act establishing the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to recognise its fellowship qualifications as equivalent to PhD degrees. Alausa said the amendment, developed with input from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, is designed to eliminate professional bottlenecks faced by specialist doctors in academia.
He noted that many medical practitioners spend well over a decade completing training, residency, and fellowship programmes, yet are still required to obtain a PhD before qualifying for professorial roles in universities. Once the proposed executive bill is forwarded to and passed by the National Assembly, fellows of the college will have their credentials officially regarded as doctoral equivalents.
The FEC also approved a six-year moratorium on establishing new universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide. The minister said the temporary halt is intended to consolidate and strengthen existing institutions, many of which — especially in the private sector — are grappling with financial and operational challenges.
Citing figures from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), he revealed that more than 2.3 million candidates sought university admission last year, while public universities were able to accommodate fewer than 228,000 students. Despite the high demand, he stressed the need to prioritise quality, stability, and sustainability within the system.
