The directive, issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is part of a broader strategy to institutionalise transparency, accountability, and good governance in the management of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the move is also aimed at aligning Nigeria’s higher education administration with global best practices.

Dr. Alausa said the directive mandates institutions to publish comprehensive details of their annual budgetary allocations, including a full breakdown of expenditure across personnel costs, overheads, and capital outlays.

“In addition, institutions are required to disclose research grant revenue from the preceding year, clearly delineating between locally sourced grants—such as those from domestic industries, government agencies, and foundations—and grants obtained from international partners, including foreign institutions and multilateral organisations,” the minister stated.

The directive also includes the mandatory publication of the institution’s TETFund allocation for the current year, specifying the total amount received and its utilisation for academic and infrastructural development.

Furthermore, institutions must publish the total value of their endowment funds as of the end of the previous year. Dr. Alausa stressed that this figure—representing long-term financial support for institutional sustainability—must be updated quarterly to ensure transparency and financial accuracy.

The minister also directed that institutions must disclose their total current student enrolment, broken down into undergraduate and postgraduate categories to reflect actual institutional capacity and population.

“All data must be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format to ensure ease of access by students, parents, researchers, and stakeholders. The structure of institutional websites must enable seamless navigation and comprehension of these critical data points,” he said.

He noted that all federal tertiary institutions must comply with the directive no later than May 31, 2025, warning that the Federal Ministry of Education would carry out regular compliance audits and apply appropriate administrative sanctions on institutions found wanting.

“This policy is a critical component of the government’s reform agenda to enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s higher education sector, drive performance-based funding, and improve the country’s global education rankings,” the minister said.

Alausa urged vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts to treat the directive with the urgency it deserves, adding that it is key to restoring institutional integrity and positioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for international competitiveness