The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has called for the appointment of a professional teacher as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), saying such a move would ensure continuity, stability, and credibility in the leadership of the commission.
National President of COEASU, Dr. Lawan Ahmed Lawan, made the appeal in a statement, stressing that experience across Nigeria’s tertiary education system has shown that regulatory bodies perform optimally when led by professionals from within the sectors they supervise.
Dr. Lawan, while applauding the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for what he described as historic contributions to the sector, commended his commitment to the full implementation of the Dual Mandate and his firm stance in protecting revitalization funding for Colleges of Education.
He noted that the reforms are already aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes human capital development, quality education, and institutional efficiency.
“Teacher education sits at the heart of this vision because no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers,” he said.
According to him, at this critical juncture, Nigeria needs continuity, stability, and credibility in the leadership of the NCCE.
Drawing parallels with other regulatory bodies, Dr. Lawan pointed out that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has consistently drawn its Executive Secretaries from the university system, while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has benefited from leadership rooted in the polytechnic sector.
“This practice has ensured insider understanding, stakeholder confidence, and policy continuity. It is therefore both proper and consistent with national precedent that the next Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education should come from the Colleges of Education sector,” he stated.
He added that such a decision would promote fairness across Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape and provide the stability required to consolidate ongoing reforms. It would also deepen the implementation of the Dual Mandate Act, strengthen curriculum development, sustain revitalization initiatives, and improve the quality of teacher education nationwide.
Dr. Lawan further said appointing a tested Colleges-of-Education professional would be remembered as a defining milestone of the Minister’s tenure, describing it as a move that would secure his legacy as the minister who stabilized teacher education and strengthened Nigeria’s human capital foundation.
He reaffirmed that COEASU stands ready to work constructively with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the next Executive Secretary of the NCCE possesses the experience, credibility, and insider understanding required to consolidate reforms and move teacher education forward.
“Nigeria’s future depends on the quality of her teachers. The stability of teacher education today will determine the strength of our universities, polytechnics, industries, and national economy tomorrow,” he said.
ENDS
