The Federal Government has scrapped the 2022 National Language Policy that required primary school instruction to be delivered in students’ mother tongue or local community languages. English will now serve as the language of instruction across all levels of education, from primary to tertiary, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of the Language in Education International Conference 2025, organized by the British Council, Alausa said the mother tongue policy had contributed to declining student performance in public examinations. According to the minister, evidence gathered by the Ministry of Education revealed that students were advancing through grades without acquiring essential skills, resulting in widespread failures in exams such as WAEC, JAMB, and NECO.
“The National Policy on Language has been cancelled. English is now the medium of instruction in our schools,” Alausa said. “Language is fundamental in education, and adopting English will ensure consistency and improve learning outcomes across all subjects.”
The minister highlighted the challenges of implementing a mother-tongue system in a country with vast linguistic diversity. He noted that while the policy applied to early primary school, inconsistent supervision and uneven application across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones rendered it ineffective.
Alausa further pointed out regional disparities. “Exams are conducted in English, but students were taught in local languages. In Borno State, many pupils speak Kanuri rather than Hausa. In Lagos, areas like Ajegunle have predominantly southeastern populations, yet most teachers come from the southwest. A standardized approach is essential to address these issues,” he said.
Donna McGowan, Country Director of the British Council Nigeria, said the conference offers a platform for policymakers, educators, and researchers to explore strategies to improve English proficiency, promote inclusive education, and strengthen learning outcomes. The event brings together stakeholders from Africa, South Asia, and the UK to discuss how language policy can support better education systems.
The 2022 National Language Policy was designed to promote indigenous languages and preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage, recognizing the country’s 600-plus languages, 29 of which are already extinct. However, challenges including insufficient teaching materials, limited teacher training, and linguistic diversity hindered its implementation, prompting the government to adopt English as the primary language of instruction.