FG Orders Tertiary Institutions to Publish Annual Financial Reports, Pledges End to ASUU Strikes

ABUJA — The Federal Government has directed all public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to begin publishing their annual financial statements and academic performance data from the first quarter of each year as part of sweeping reforms to entrench transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who announced the directive on Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of the Tertiary Institution Governance and Transparency Platform (TIGTP), said the move is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader commitment to good governance and evidence-based decision-making across public institutions.

Alausa warned that any institution that fails to comply with the new directive risks losing access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions. He also revealed that institutions would henceforth require clearance from the Director of ICT before accessing any TETFund-related ICT support.

“Financial reporting through this platform will form part of institutional performance evaluations by both local and international partners. Funding and interventions will increasingly be tied to transparency and accountability metrics,” the minister said.

FG Moves to End ASUU Strikes

Alausa further assured that the era of incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is over, stressing that the government would “do everything humanly possible” to prevent future disruptions in the academic calendar.

“The President has mandated us that he doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike. We are doing everything possible to ensure our students stay in school,” Alausa told State House correspondents.

He disclosed that President Tinubu had granted further concessions to fast-track a peaceful resolution with ASUU, while ongoing talks with the union remain “constructive and progressive.”

Broadband Connectivity by 2026

The minister also announced that all tertiary institutions across the country will be fully connected to high-speed broadband through the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NG-REN) by 2026, in partnership with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

He said the initiative forms part of the administration’s drive to digitize academic processes, improve data access, and modernize procurement practices within the education sector.

Varsity Heads Applaud Initiative

Reacting, the Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Prof. Tanko Ishaya, hailed the platform as a bold and timely innovation that aligns with global best practices in higher education governance.

He commended the Federal Government’s push toward transparency and digital accountability, noting that the initiative would enhance both internal and external confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.