Niger Clamps Down On Private Tertiary Institutions, Withdraws Operating Licences

By Ayodele Oni

In its move to sanitize their operations, the Niger State Government has revoked operating licences and approval granted to owners of Private Tertiary Institutions in the state.

The decision will affect not less than 50 of such institutions, which include Polytechnics and Universities.

The decision was conveyed in a letter dated 17th December, 2021, and addressed to proprietors of all such  Institutions in the state.

It was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Musa Abubakar Sadeeq.

The letter stated that: “The State Government is disturbed about the spate of contravention of stipulated rules and regulations governing the establishment and operations of Private Tertiary Education Institutions across the state.

“The State Government, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology had earlier shown its magnanimity in granting provisional approval to many of such established Institutions pending the fulfillment of all requirements.

“None of the affected institutions have been able to comply.They  chose to abuse  the privilege of the provisional approval granted them by not conforming to the rules and regulations.

“The Niger State Government in her desire  to enforce the guidelines and maintain the standard  for the establishment of  Tertiary  Education in the State, has decided to revoke the earlier provisional approval.

“However, each Institution is required to reapply individually  for registrations and approval.

“And such institutions will be provided  with a revised set of prerequisite conditions which they are expected to comply with.

“The State Government wishes to appeal to all persons and  institutions to be law abiding as all is being done in the interest and sanctity of the  state education sector.”

But the Government’s action has come under severe criticisms. A couple of the Proprietors who spoke to The Source, pleading anonymity, accused the Government of insincerity.

They challenged the Government to mention one of the conditions Proprietors  did not comply with. Why did they not mention even one in their statement?, they asked.

They also accused the Government of not considering the impact “its badly thought out” action will have on the students.

It is all about money, they submitted.

One of them told us: “Instead of the Government to say it is looking for ways to raise money, it accuses us falsely, and jeopardises the future of students.”