Victoria
In a major push toward digital transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the Federal Government has mandated that all federally funded universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education make key institutional data publicly accessible through their official websites by May 31, 2025.
The directive, Issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aims to ensure that critical financial and operational information is no longer hidden behind bureaucratic walls but is made available in a clear, user-friendly format for public scrutiny.
“This data should be categorised into two distinct sources: grants from domestic bodies such as local industries, government agencies, or foundations, and grants from international sources, including foreign institutions, multilateral organisations, and development partners,” said Alausa in a statement released through the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
Among the information to be disclosed are detailed breakdowns of each institution’s Annual Budgetary Allocation including personnel, overhead, and capital expenses as well as revenues from both domestic and international research grants.
Also to be published are TETFund allocations for the current year, and the total value of each institution’s Endowment Fund, which must be updated every quarter. These disclosures are intended to give stakeholders a clear view of the financial backbone of each institution.
Beyond finances, institutions are also expected to publish their Total Student Population, clearly separating undergraduate and postgraduate figures to provide insight into enrollment trends and institutional capacity.
The Ministry of Education stressed that the data must be structured and presented in an accessible format to allow stakeholders ranging from students and parents to researchers and policymakers to easily find and understand the information.
Periodic compliance checks will be carried out, and institutions that fail to meet the transparency requirements could face administrative sanctions. The reviews will also help inform broader policy decisions and reforms in the education sector, the statement revealed.
