FG Shuts 22 Illegal Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government has shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has confirmed.

The discovery followed a nationwide crackdown on unaccredited institutions. According to the commission, the move is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.

In a statement highlighting its recent achievements, the NCCE disclosed that beyond closing the illegal colleges, it also carried out personnel audits and financial monitoring across all 21 federal Colleges of Education.

The action aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to education regulatory agencies to clamp down on what he described as “certificate millers” undermining the credibility of the sector.

Speaking at the 14th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria in Abuja, Tinubu—represented by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education—stressed that his administration will not tolerate fake or unrecognised institutions.

“The integrity of our academic system must not be compromised,” the President warned, adding that education agencies including the NUC, NBTE, JAMB, NYSC and NCCE are now working in closer alignment to ensure efficiency and quality across the system.

The latest crackdown is expected to reassure students and parents while strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.