Over 150 Universities, Polytechnics Fail To Comply With Fg Budget Directive
No fewer than 150 federal universities, polytechnics and monotechnics have missed the May 31, 2025 deadline of the Federal Government to all tertiary institutions to update their website with key institutional data, including financial records.
Recall that, in April 2025, the FG asked all vice-chancellors of federal universities, rectors of polytechnic, and provosts of other institutions to, no later than May 31, 2025, publish their Annual Budgetary Allocation, Research Grant Revenue (Previous Year), TETFund Allocation (Current Year), Endowment Fund (Previous Year) and Total Student Population (Undergraduate and Postgraduate).
Expected to comply with the directive are 64 federal universities, 41 federal polytechnics, and 90 federal monotechnics.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa was then quoted in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, as stating that the move aimed to entrench transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s tertiary education system in line with global best practices.
The minister emphasised that the information must be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format for public visibility.
He said, “Websites should be structured in a way that allows the public, including parents, students, and stakeholders, to easily locate and understand these data points.
“To ensure adherence, the Federal Ministry of Education will conduct periodic reviews of institutional websites and take appropriate administrative actions against non-compliant institutions. These reviews will be used to gauge compliance and drive policy decisions that promote transparency.”
The FG had also noted that the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership will monitor the level of compliance.
But, checks by our correspondent, at the expiration of the deadline showed a 50 per cent compliance for federal universities, 19.51 per cent for federal polytechnics and 3.33 per cent compliance by federal monotechnics as of Monday.
Specifically, those who have complied with the FG directive are 32 of 64 federal universities, 10 of 41 polytechnics and three of 90 monotechnics.
According to the Athena Centre, some of the institutions that have uploaded their details are University of Benin; Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State; University of Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State; Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji; Federal Polytechnic, Auchi; Ekiti Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti; Federal Polytechnic, Ayede;
Some of those institutions yet to provide their institution details are, the University of Uyo; Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State; Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi; Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa; Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi; University of Borno; University of Calabar; University of Ibadan; Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo; Federal Polytechnic, Daura; Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Federal Polytechnic, Nekede;
When contacted, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Education, Olanrewaju Lamina, said the May 31 deadline remained.
“The Office of the Honourable Minister is currently assessing the level of compliance by higher institutions with the directive to publish their annual budgets, grants, endowments, and other relevant financial information on their official websites.
“At this time, no extension to the May 31 deadline has been announced. The Ministry remains committed to transparency and accountability in the education sector and will take the necessary actions to ensure full compliance by all institutions,” Lamina said.