The federal government has instructed all vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts of federal universities, polytechnics, and other institutions to publish essential financial and institutional data on their official websites, effective immediately.
The directive, issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, aims to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s higher education system, aligning with global best practices.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, it was highlighted that each institution is now required to make public its annual budgetary allocation in full, detailing expenditures across personnel costs, overheads, and capital investments.
“Additionally, institutions must disclose their research grant revenues from the previous year, distinguishing between domestic and international sources. This includes grants from local bodies such as government agencies, foundations, and private sectors, as well as funds from foreign institutions, multilateral organizations, and development partners.”
Furthermore, institutions are expected to showcase their current year’s TETFund allocation. The statement specifies that the total amount received should be clearly stated, reflecting the financial support for academic and infrastructural growth in the ongoing calendar year.
In addition to these financial disclosures, universities and polytechnics must provide details about their endowment funds as of the previous year. “This figure, reflecting donations or investments for long-term financial stability, must be updated quarterly to ensure transparency,” the statement added.
The minister has also mandated the publication of the current total student population, divided into undergraduate and postgraduate levels, offering a transparent view of enrolment numbers and institutional capacity.
Dr. Alausa stressed the importance of presenting this information in an easily accessible and user-friendly format. “Websites should be structured so that parents, students, and other stakeholders can easily find and understand the data.”
The Minister further emphasized that all institutions must fully comply with this directive and update their websites no later than May 31, 2025. “To ensure compliance, the Federal Ministry of Education will conduct regular reviews of institutional websites and enforce appropriate actions against non-compliant institutions,” he added. These reviews will support informed decisions and foster transparency.
This initiative is part of a larger reform aimed at enhancing public trust, improving performance-based funding, and boosting Nigeria’s global education standing. Dr. Alausa urged all heads of tertiary institutions to treat this directive with urgency, calling it a crucial step in enhancing the integrity and competitiveness of Nigeria’s education sector.
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