The Federal Government has declared that corruption and impunity in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions will no longer be tolerated, warning that transparency, accountability and ethical leadership will now be strictly enforced across the sector.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing participants at a retreat organised by the Conference of Heads of Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and similar institutions.
Speaking on the theme, “Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development,” Alausa said the government would no longer condone financial recklessness, abuse of office or unethical practices in tertiary institutions.
According to him, the era of impunity in the system is over, stressing that fiscal discipline, timely audits and zero tolerance for corruption are essential to restoring public trust and attracting investment.
He charged governing councils and management teams to uphold transparency, accountability and ethical leadership, urging them to avoid conflicts of interest, manage resources prudently and prioritise merit in appointments and promotions.
Beyond governance reforms, the minister called for a comprehensive transformation of polytechnic education, describing innovation and sustainability as critical drivers of national development.
Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education was revitalising technical and vocational education to ensure graduates are equipped with practical, industry-relevant skills. He encouraged polytechnic leaders to promote entrepreneurship, research and strong industry partnerships that can turn ideas into marketable products and job-creating enterprises.
He identified renewable energy, agricultural technology, digital manufacturing and climate-resilient solutions as priority areas for research and training, while also urging institutions to develop sustainable funding models through improved Internally Generated Revenue.
The minister acknowledged challenges such as funding gaps, obsolete facilities and societal bias favouring university education over technical skills but expressed confidence in sustained government support under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also announced a special Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention to upgrade polytechnic engineering schools with modern equipment, following similar interventions in medical colleges.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, Dr Sani Tunga, described the retreat as timely, noting that polytechnics play a vital role in producing skilled and entrepreneurial manpower needed for economic diversification and job creation.
Tunga highlighted challenges facing the sector, including inadequate funding, outdated infrastructure, governance gaps and recurring conflicts between governing councils, management and staff unions.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof Idris Bugaje, said ongoing reforms marked a turning point for technical and polytechnic education after decades of neglect.
Bugaje noted that the sector had suffered marginalisation compared to universities but said recent reforms had begun to restore confidence and relevance in technical education.
The retreat brought together key stakeholders across the polytechnic and technical education sector to chart a path towards skills-driven national development.
