The Federal Government has inaugurated a new Education Reform Initiative and the Ministerial Project Approval Board (MPAB) to promote transparency, strengthen accountability, and improve infrastructure development in Nigeria’s education sector.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the initiative marks a bold step by the Federal Ministry of Education to transform schools through public–private partnerships (PPPs) and ensure that future projects deliver lasting value. Speaking during the inauguration at the Minister’s Conference Room in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), said the reforms are designed to make institutions more efficient and eliminate bottlenecks that slow down project delivery.
Dr. Alausa explained that the new MPAB framework follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on project approval thresholds across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Under the new system, projects up to ₦20 billion can be approved by the MPAB, while those above ₦20 billion must go to the Federal Executive Council (FEC). For agencies and parastatals, projects between ₦10 billion and ₦20 billion will be approved by the supervising ministry’s board.
The Minister stressed that the MPAB represents the government’s commitment to transparency, innovation, and collaboration. He urged members to treat their appointments as national assignments and deliver projects that will positively impact Nigeria’s education system. “No single budget can solve all the challenges facing our schools,” he said. “What we need is innovation, accountability, and teamwork to move education forward.”
According to Mediaplusng.com, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Olamuyiwa Enitan, described the inauguration as a major milestone in improving project management standards and aligning Nigeria’s education system with global best practices. He said the adoption of PPPs will attract more investment, support digital learning, and expand infrastructure across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Also speaking, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, presented a PPP proposal for the Federal Government College, Kano, as an example of the type of projects to be handled under the new structure.
Dr. Alausa concluded that the reforms will ensure better governance, efficient service delivery, and lasting improvements in education nationwide, reflecting the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
