FG outlaws mother tongue policy, reinstates English as language of instruction

Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria's Minister Of Education

Federal Government Revokes Mother Tongue Policy, Reinstates English as Sole Language of Instruction

In a significant reversal of educational policy, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially scrapped the National Language Policy (NLP) that mandated the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in early education.

This decision was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 Language in Education International Conference held in Abuja.

The policy, originally introduced in 2022, had required that children from Early Childhood Education to Primary Six be taught in their mother tongue or the language of their immediate community. It was designed to promote indigenous languages, strengthen national identity, and enhance comprehension at foundational levels.

However, the government has now declared English as the sole language of instruction across all levels of education, from pre-primary to tertiary institutions. This change was ratified at the 69th meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE), which took place in Akure,

Ondo State, between November 3 and 7, 2025. Dr. Alausa justified the policy reversal by citing extensive data analysis and evidence that revealed poor academic performance among students taught primarily in their mother tongue. He emphasized that the use of indigenous languages had negatively impacted learning outcomes, particularly in public examinations, and that the shift back to English was necessary to improve educational standards nationwide.

The Minister acknowledged the cultural and linguistic value of Nigeria’s diverse languages but stressed that the priority must be on effective learning and global competitiveness. He noted that while indigenous languages will continue to be taught as subjects, they will no longer serve as the primary medium of instruction.

This move has sparked renewed debate among educators, linguists, and cultural advocates, some of whom argue that the mother tongue policy was a progressive step toward preserving Nigeria’s linguistic heritage and fostering inclusive education.

Nonetheless, the government maintains that the reinstatement of English aligns with international best practices and will better prepare Nigerian students for global engagement.

The decision marks a return to the long-standing tradition of English as the dominant language in Nigerian classrooms, a legacy of colonial influence that continues to shape the country’s educational framework.