Fatshimetrie recently announced a shake-up of his ministerial team with the sacking of five ministers to improve service delivery. The move comes after criticism from the Organisation for the Accelerated Development of Education (ODAE) which described it as “long overdue” under President Tinubu’s administration.
Dr Livinus Mbaonu, the National Coordinator of ODAE, noted that Minister Mamman had sought to undermine the progress made in the education sector in recent times, thus justifying his sacking.
ODAE presented ten crucial reasons for the minister’s removal, highlighting a pattern of mismanagement and misinformation. Key among them was Mamman’s role in “spreading false information leading to diplomatic conflicts” that have strained relations between Nigeria, Benin and Togo.
Furthermore, his claims about the accreditation of universities in Benin were found to be inaccurate, as he had stated that only three institutions were accredited when in reality over 50 had that status.
ODAE also accused Mamman of mismanaging the participation of foreign students in the National Youth Service Commission (NYSC) programme, leading to thousands of them being denied enrolment in the programme.
Other critics pointed to conflicts between key educational bodies, such as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), due to Mamman’s leadership.
Inefficiencies in accreditation processes, a controversial 18-year minimum age policy for university admission that led to legal action, and a lack of cooperation with fellow officials, also contributed to operational inefficiencies within the ministry.
This decision to sack Minister Mamman highlights the importance of good governance and transparency in the education sector to ensure the smooth functioning of the education system for the benefit of the Nigerian youth.
Fatshimetrie will continue to closely monitor developments within the government to ensure that necessary reforms are implemented to promote quality and equitable education for all.