By Muhammad Sulaiman
Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the merger of the state’s Ministry of Higher Education with the Ministry of Education in a move aimed at strengthening coordination and accelerating reforms in the education sector.
The decision was announced in a statement on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, the newly unified body will operate as the Ministry of Education, with a specialised Directorate of Higher Education established within the ministry to oversee tertiary education in the state. The directorate will be headed by a permanent secretary and supported by relevant personnel to ensure effective administration of higher education institutions.
The statement added that agencies previously under the Ministry of Higher Education, including the state Scholarship Board, will now be returned to the Ministry of Education. State-owned universities and other tertiary institutions will also be supervised by the Directorate of Higher Education under the restructured ministry.
The restructuring forms part of the government’s broader education sector reform agenda, which seeks to eliminate duplication of responsibilities, improve policy coordination across all levels of education, and reduce the cost of governance.
Governor Yusuf said the reform is intended to enhance efficiency, strengthen accountability, and improve the overall quality of education administration in the state.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing comprehensive reforms that will revitalise the education sector and create better opportunities for the younger generation.
The Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service have been directed to ensure the immediate and smooth realignment of the affected ministries and their departments.