The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially cancelled the National Language Policy mandating the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in schools. English will now serve as the sole language of instruction from the pre-primary to tertiary education levels across the country.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 Language in Education International Conference, organized by the British Council in Abuja on Wednesday.




The previous National Language Policy (NLP), introduced in 2022, required that pupils from Early Childhood Education to Primary Six be taught using their mother tongue or language of the immediate community.


However, the new decision by the Ministry of Education reverses that approach.



Dr. Alausa explained that the decision was driven by data-based evidence and national performance trends.
According to him, students taught primarily in indigenous languages recorded poor performance in national examinations such as WAEC, NECO, and JAMB.

“We have seen a mass failure rate in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB in certain geopolitical zones that adopted the mother tongue policy excessively,” the Minister said.
“Using the mother tongue for the past 15 years has negatively impacted education outcomes in some regions. English now stands as the language of instruction from pre-primary to tertiary education.”



He emphasized that the Ministry’s new direction is based on evidence, not emotions, noting that English proficiency remains a crucial skill for students to compete globally.



With the cancellation of the National Language Policy, English will now serve as the uniform medium of instruction across all Nigerian schools.

Dr. Alausa urged education stakeholders who oppose the decision to present verifiable data supporting their claims, adding that the government remains open to evidence-based dialogue aimed at strengthening the education system.




Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, disclosed that the Federal Government is developing a new training package for teachers focused on literacy and numeracy at the foundational level.

“We are designing a training package for teachers that focuses on literacy and numeracy. This targets teachers from pre-primary to Primary Three, helping them adopt more effective teaching methods,” she explained.





The Country Director of the British Council in Nigeria, Donna McGowan, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education reforms.

“We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Education in areas such as teacher professional development, school leadership, and language proficiency,” McGowan said.

The Federal Government’s decision to make English the sole medium of instruction marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s education landscape. While some may view it as a setback for indigenous language preservation, the government insists it is a necessary step toward improving learning outcomes and global competitiveness.