The Federal Government has cancelled all admissions into the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session over alleged regulatory breaches.
The Federal Ministry of Education also directed the Kaduna-based institute to end all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, stating that it was not authorised to award NCE or university degrees.
The decisions were announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
The ministry warned prospective students, parents and the general public against applying for the affected programmes, accepting admission offers or making payments. The ban covers full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies (DLS).
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 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements and accreditation standards set by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
The National Universities Commission (NUC) was also directed 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 NCE II–IV Distance Learning Studies.
It said the NCCE would conduct a comprehensive accreditation exercise covering existing programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones. Eligible students may be allowed to complete their studies, subject to accreditation outcomes and regulatory requirements.
The ministry clarified that NTI’s statutory responsibilities remain focused on teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development.
The institute is also expected to provide pedagogical training and a three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-Education degrees to acquire the professional competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The ministry said the intervention was intended to protect students, uphold academic standards and prevent prospective applicants from enrolling in unapproved programmes.
It urged members of the public to verify the accreditation and admission status of programmes through relevant regulatory authorities and official government channels before making enrolment or payment decisions.