The Federal Government has cancelled all admissions into the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, for its National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session over violations of regulatory requirements.
The decision was announced on Saturday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which also directed the institute to immediately end all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, stating that it lacks the legal authority to award NCE and university degrees.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the cancellation applies to all admission categories, including full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies (DLS).
The Ministry explained that the action followed NTI’s failure to comply with the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025.
It stressed that admissions into NCE programmes must follow the admission procedures of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and meet accreditation requirements set by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
The government also directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to inform universities affiliated with NTI of the decision and ensure that all degree-awarding arrangements with the institute are discontinued.
Consequently, the Ministry warned prospective students, parents and guardians against seeking admission into the affected programmes, accepting admission offers or making payments, adding that no further admissions would be allowed under the arrangements.
However, it assured students already enrolled in existing NCE Distance Learning programmes that measures would be introduced to protect their academic interests.
According to the Ministry, the NCCE will undertake a comprehensive accreditation exercise covering existing NCE II to IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones.
It said students who meet the necessary requirements would be permitted to complete their studies, subject to the outcome of the accreditation exercise and compliance with other regulatory standards.
The Ministry further clarified that NTI’s statutory responsibilities are limited to teacher education, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development.
It added that the institute is 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 qualifications required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The government said the decision was aimed at safeguarding students, upholding academic standards and preventing members of the public from enrolling in programmes that have not received the necessary regulatory approval.
It therefore advised prospective students and parents to confirm the accreditation and admission status of institutions and academic programmes through relevant regulatory agencies and official government channels before making enrolment or payment commitments.
