By Joy Umo
The Federal Government has introduced a new digital governance platform designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and efficiency across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The initiative, known as the Federal Government Tertiary Institution Governance and Transparency Platform, was unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who described it as a significant step toward restoring public confidence and promoting data-driven management in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Alausa said the platform would serve as a centralised system providing real-time access to verified data and financial information across all tertiary institutions in the country. He noted that it is structured to eliminate fragmentation of institutional data, which has hindered effective planning and accountability for many years.
“For the first time, Nigeria will operate a single, reliable source of information on student enrolment, government funding including capital, recurrent and personnel, research grants, TETFund allocations, student loan interventions and key performance indicators for comparing institutions,” he explained.
The minister stressed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s commitment to ensuring transparency across public institutions. He added that Nigerians would now be able to track how public resources are allocated and utilised in tertiary schools.
Dr Alausa outlined several advantages for institutions, which include improved planning and budgeting, stronger collaborations with industry and development partners, greater credibility for international partnerships, timely reporting to government agencies and enhanced competitiveness through performance benchmarking.
He further highlighted benefits for government, noting that the platform would support evidence-based policy formulation, strengthen monitoring systems and deliver better value for public investments in the education sector.
Compliance, he said, will be mandatory for all tertiary institutions. Annual data submissions will be required in the first quarter of every year, and financial reports uploaded on the platform will form part of institutional performance assessments. He added that access to government funding and interventions will now be tied to transparency and accountability scores, while institutions must obtain a clearance certificate from the Director of ICT before benefitting from any TETFund ICT support.
“The FTIGTP is not just a digital tool. It is a reform mechanism that will drive transparency, efficiency and results-based management throughout the tertiary education system,” the minister stated.
According to the ministry, the platform is designed to close long-standing gaps in the sector and bring Nigeria in line with global best practices. Institutions will be required to publish their annual budget allocations including personnel, overheads and capital spending. Research-grant income must be disclosed, clearly separating domestic from international sources, while TETFund allocations for each year must be visible to the public.
Schools will also be required to update the value of their endowment funds every quarter, and student population figures must be public, showing the breakdown between undergraduate and postgraduate enrolment.
The ministry emphasised that the portal is not a mere compliance exercise but a key element of ongoing reforms aimed at rebuilding trust, improving performance-based funding and enhancing Nigeria’s standing in global education rankings. Regular audits will be conducted to ensure institutions adhere to the requirements.
By making these records accessible, the government hopes to curb mismanagement, give parents and students greater clarity on how funds are used and promote a more transparent academic environment that supports quality teaching and research.