FG cancels 2026 NTI admissions, halts degree programmes

The Federal Government has cancelled all admissions into the National Teachers’ Institute’s National Certificate in Education and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session over regulatory breaches involving admissions, accreditation and university affiliations.

The Federal Ministry of Education also directed the institute, based in Kaduna, to discontinue all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, stressing that it was not authorised to award NCE or university degrees.

The ministry announced the decisions in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

It warned prospective students, parents and the general public against seeking admission into the affected programmes, including full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies.

“Consequently, all admissions into NTI’s NCE and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session have been cancelled, while the Institute has been directed to discontinue all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, as it is not authorised to award NCE and university degrees,” the statement said.

The ministry further warned members of the public against applying for the programmes, accepting admission offers or making payments.

“The ministry emphasises that no further admissions into the affected programmes, whether full-time, part-time or through Distance Learning Studies (DLS), are permitted,” it stated.

According to the ministry, the directive followed violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025.

It explained that NCE admissions must comply with the requirements of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

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The ministry also directed the National Universities Commission to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the order discontinuing NTI’s degree-awarding arrangements.

However, the government said it would protect students already enrolled in existing programmes, particularly those in the NCE II–IV Distance Learning Studies.

It said the NCCE would conduct comprehensive accreditation of the existing programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones to determine which students could be allowed to complete their studies.

“To protect innocent students already enrolled, the NCCE will conduct comprehensive accreditation of existing NCE II–IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones.

“Eligible students may complete their programmes, subject to accreditation outcomes and regulatory requirements,” the ministry said.

The ministry clarified that NTI’s statutory responsibilities remained focused on teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development.

It said the institute was also expected to provide pedagogical capacity-building and a three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-Education degrees to acquire professional competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

The ministry said the intervention was aimed at protecting students, maintaining academic standards and preventing prospective applicants from enrolling in unapproved programmes.

It consequently urged members of the public to verify the accreditation and admission status of academic programmes through relevant regulatory authorities and official government channels before making enrolment or payment decisions.