The Minister of Education, Dr Morufu Olatunji Alausa, has proposed a major restructuring of Nigeria’s 9-3-4 education system, placing the three-year senior secondary school level under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
This proposal was presented at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education meeting held at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Abuja, on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Alausa, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in October 2024, suggested the move would streamline education management and funding.
However, sources claim the proposal is a strategic effort to divert more funds to UBEC, allegedly for ulterior motives.
State Commissioners Oppose Move
The minister’s proposal has met resistance from state Commissioners of Education, who expressed concerns over its implications.
Despite their opposition, Alausa proceeded with its adoption.
Sources revealed that the push to transfer SS1 to SS3 under UBEC aligns with the interests of the commission’s new Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, appointed in December 2024 by President Tinubu.
“The body language of the minister and all his efforts are to just empower UBEC against the Nigerian state. He is proposing an increased funding for UBEC, all in a bid to push his agenda,” a top source told SaharaReporters on Thursday.
Questions Over Political Motives
Critics speculate that Alausa’s insistence on restructuring the education system is linked to his alleged political aspirations.
Reports suggest he may be positioning himself for the Lagos State governorship race, raising concerns about policy changes being driven by political ambition rather than educational improvement.
“This is another policy somersault in education as the new minister is confused. The state commissioners of education’s efforts to save the education sector were resisted by the Minister for Education,” a delegate at the meeting remarked.
The proposal, which was not initially included on the agenda for the strategic meeting, has sparked debate on whether the government’s priority should be on improving existing structures rather than implementing disruptive changes.
Stakeholders continue to express concerns that this overhaul could compromise the quality of secondary education, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The discussion around the proposal is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as education experts and policymakers weigh in on the matter.
