By Bunmi Yekini
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has commended the Federal Government’s new directive mandating all Federal tertiary institutions to publish their budgets, financial information, and other institutional data online, describing it as a significant milestone in promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.
The directive, announced over the weekend in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education, was signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo. According to the release, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, ordered all Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of Federal institutions to begin publishing such data on their websites immediately, with a deadline of May 31, 2025.
The directive requires institutions to provide comprehensive details of their annual budget allocations, itemized expenditures, revenue from research grants—both domestic and international—as well as their TETFund allocations, with breakdowns of financial support for academic and infrastructural development.
Reacting to the announcement, MRA said the move represents a “laudable commitment to open governance.”
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Programme Officer, Mr. Timileyin Adams, praised the Ministry for the bold initiative and called for strict enforcement of the directive.
“The measures and their effective implementation would serve as a deterrent against corruption in Federal tertiary institutions and significantly contribute to improvements in service delivery in the education sector,” Adams said.
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However, MRA urged the Federal Government not to limit the directive to the education sector alone but to extend it to all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
“Transparency should not be selective,” Adams noted. “Making budgetary and other financial information of public institutions accessible to citizens across all sections of the public service is essential for fostering a culture of accountability, combating corruption, and promoting citizen engagement in governance.”
He further emphasized that Section 2(3) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, already mandates all public institutions to proactively disclose such financial data and institutional records.
“By expanding the directive to all other public institutions, the government will be reinforcing existing law, ensuring compliance with a crucial aspect of the FOI Act, and demonstrating genuine political will to uphold transparency across all sectors,” he added.
Adams also urged oversight bodies such as the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General, and the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure full compliance and to support the development of user-friendly online platforms for public access to the data.
He reaffirmed MRA’s commitment to promoting access to information, transparency, accountability, and democratic governance, calling on the Federal Government to work towards a “fully open and accountable Federal public service.”