Only 4 Federal Universities Compliant; Live Tracker Launched to Monitor Progress
With just eight days remaining until the May 31st deadline set by the Honourable Minister of Education, the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has issued a stark warning over the alarmingly low compliance of federal tertiary institutions with the Minister’s directive on transparency.
The directive, which mandates all federal universities, polytechnics, and monotechnics to publish their financial and institutional data, follows the release of the *Athena Governance Insight* report that exposed deep-rooted opacity in the management of public funds across Nigeria’s higher education sector.
In a bid to foster public accountability, Athena Centre, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, has unveiled a *live countdown and compliance tracker accessible at [https://lnk.athenacentre.org/43mSk0w](https://lnk.athenacentre.org/43mSk0w). The platform provides real-time updates on each institution’s progress—or lack thereof.
So far, the data paints a grim picture:
Only 4 of 64 federal universities* have published any financial data.
Only 3 of 41 federal polytechnics* have complied.
None of the 90 federal monotechnics* have uploaded the required information.
This is a test of leadership. Institutions must choose: *transparency or shame,” said Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre. “We still have eight days, but time is running out.”
The findings underscore a systemic problem:
Many university websites contain ‘Financial Reports’ tabs that are either blank or inaccessible.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka* uploaded vague details on endowment projects without disclosing any financial specifics.
Federal Polytechnic, Ayede posted a generic national budget instead of an institution-specific report.
University of Ilorin* omitted data on postgraduate enrolment, revealing incomplete submissions.
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta shared audits dating back to 2018–2022, with no recent updates.
Federal University Gusau, Zamfara listed only undergraduate figures—no financial data at all.
One notable exception is the University of Lagos, which stands out for publishing consolidated financial statements from **2016 to 2023, setting an example for others to follow.
Athena Centre warns that the low compliance may reflect either widespread administrative inefficiency or deliberate resistance to transparency—both of which threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
“The countdown to May 31st is not just a technical deadline. it is a moment of reckoning,” Chidoka emphasized. “Institutions that fail to comply will be named and remembered.”
Athena Centre has reaffirmed its support for the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and all stakeholders committed to genuine reform in university governance.
Media Contact:
Aliyu Jalal
Media Adviser
Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership
Email: [info.centre@athenacentre.org](mailto:info.centre@athenacentre.org)
Phone: +234 803 272 5615
