The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive plan to reform the procurement system in the education sector and ensure that all federal tertiary institutions are connected to high-speed broadband via the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NG-REN) by 2026.

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, made this known at a joint meeting of ministers of education, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), heads of federal tertiary institutions, bursars, procurement directors, and education agency leaders in Abuja.

Under new procurement guideline, procurements up to ?10 billion will be handled at the institutional level, while projects above that threshold will require approval from the Ministerial Project Approval Board.

Copies of the guideline were distributed to the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, the Committee of Rectors of Polytechnics, and the Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education for onward circulation.

Alausa said the initiatives were part of the government?s efforts to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and digital access across the nation?s learning ecosystem.

He described the meeting as a ?critical step towards achieving President Bola Tinubu?s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education,? adding that the government is committed to ending fragmented procurement practices and inconsistent internet access across federal institutions.

?We cannot continue to operate in silos or allow wasteful spending when technology can bring efficiency, transparency, and connectivity to our institutions,? he said.

According to the minister, ?From 2026, every federal tertiary institution in Nigeria will be subscribed to the NG-REN platform through a coordinated funding mechanism via TETFund. No institution will be left behind.?

Alausa unveiled a new Procurement Guideline for Tertiary Institutions, developed jointly by the Federal Ministry of Education, the BPP, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). The guideline outlines approval thresholds and clarifies the responsibilities of institutional procurement officers to reduce delays and strengthen due process.

?For the first time, we now have a single procurement document tailored to the peculiarities of the education sector,? he said.

The minister commended the Director-General of the BPP for supporting transparency and digital efficiency, noting that the new system would ?make government work faster, simpler, and cleaner.?

Alausa emphasised the central role of technology in improving access to quality education. He noted that power and internet connectivity remain the biggest challenges facing effective learning and research.

To address connectivity gaps, he reaffirmed the government?s commitment to strengthening NG-REN, a broadband platform interconnecting universities, polytechnics, colleges, and research institutions nationwide.

?The NG-REN is not just about providing internet. It is about linking all our institutions to share knowledge, research data, and innovation seamlessly,? he said.

The minister revealed that the government, through TETFund, is working with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other partners to integrate NG-REN with the Tertiary Education Research and Applications System (T-ERAS), a digital platform that automates TETFund interventions, subscriptions, and project monitoring.

He disclosed that the Ministry has secured a single ICT project clearance from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for 2025, a step that will streamline ICT procurement across all tertiary institutions.

?With T-ERAS, institutions can process interventions, track projects, and access information directly from their mobile phones,? Alausa said. ?This enhances transparency, reduces bureaucratic delays, and improves accountability in the use of public funds,he said.

He also directed TETFund and NG-REN management to engage private tertiary institutions to ensure that the benefits of the national education network extend beyond public campuses.

Alausa added that the ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Communications, the World Bank, and NITDA to expand fibre-optic infrastructure nationwide.

?The government is providing an end-to-end digital backbone for our education sector. Institutions without fibre connectivity should liaise with the relevant agencies immediately to be part of this transformative journey,? he said.

The minister urged stakeholders to view investment in education not merely as expenditure, but as a foundation for national development.

He reaffirmed that the ongoing reforms and digital expansion efforts form part of a long-term strategy to modernize Nigeria?s education sector, strengthen governance systems, and improve learning outcomes for the country?s youth. (TRIBUNE)

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