Nigeria's government mandates four-year degree programmes be completed within four years

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a directive that four-year degree programmes should be completed within the allotted four years. The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a briefing in Abuja where the 2026 agreements between the government and staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were presented.

According to both Punch and Vanguard, the minister linked the new policy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign promise to ensure that students graduate on schedule. The agreements are described as a concrete step toward fulfilling that pledge and restoring confidence in relations between the government and tertiary‑institution unions.

A key component of the announcement is the expansion of the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee. Originally set up to oversee the accord with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the committee will be broadened into a single platform that includes both academic and non‑academic staff unions across all tertiary institutions. The minister indicated that the committee’s membership will be widened to incorporate relevant unions and stakeholders, with the intention of making the body a permanent structure. Its responsibilities will include tracking agreed milestones, assessing progress, addressing implementation challenges and providing periodic accountability reports.

The agreements also introduce financial allowances aimed at improving staff welfare. The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) will apply to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, while the Consolidated Non‑Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) will cover non‑teaching staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Both allowances are scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2026, in line with the implementation guidelines attached to the agreements.

The government has pledged to honour its part of the accords, emphasizing that the credibility of the arrangements will hinge on faithful implementation. By committing to these measures, officials aim to curb the recurring industrial disputes and strikes that have historically disrupted academic calendars and caused students to lose valuable academic time.

While the minister expressed confidence that the expanded monitoring framework and the new allowances would help achieve the four‑year completion target, he also cautioned that the success of the initiative depends on sustained governmental follow‑through. The announcements mark the beginning of a concerted effort to align Nigeria’s tertiary education timelines with the expectations set during the Tinubu administration’s electoral campaign.