FG says the National Teachers’ Institute lacks authority to award NCE certificates and university degrees, but existing students may be allowed to complete their programmes after accreditation.

The Federal Government has cancelled all 2026 admissions into the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes over violations of regulatory requirements governing admissions, accreditation and university affiliations.

The Federal Ministry of Education also directed the Kaduna-based institute to discontinue its university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, declaring that it lacks authorisation to award NCE certificates and university degrees.

The directive was announced in a statement dated November 7, 2026, and signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

The cancellation applies to full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies programmes, with prospective students and parents warned against accepting admission offers or making payments for the affected courses.

The ministry said the action followed breaches of its operational guidelines issued on September 12, 2025.

However, students already enrolled in certain programmes may be permitted to complete their studies, depending on the outcome of a nationwide accreditation exercise.

Why FG cancelled NTI admissions for 2026

According to the ministry, the institute violated regulations governing student admissions, programme accreditation and affiliations with universities.

The government maintained that NTI had no independent authority to award NCE certificates or university degrees and must discontinue arrangements operating outside its approved mandate.

“Consequently, all admissions into NTI’s NCE and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session have been cancelled,” the ministry stated.

It explained that admissions into NCE programmes must comply with the requirements of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the accreditation standards established by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

The NCCE is responsible for regulating teacher education programmes leading to the NCE qualification, including setting minimum academic standards and conducting accreditation exercises.

The ministry also directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to notify universities affiliated with NTI and ensure compliance with the order terminating its degree-awarding arrangements.

The statement did not identify the affected universities, disclose how many admissions had been cancelled or specify the particular programmes and centres found to have breached the guidelines.

These omissions leave prospective applicants uncertain about the full extent of the directive and the institutions involved.

What happens to students already enrolled at NTI?

The government said it would take steps to protect students who enrolled in existing programmes before the cancellation.

Rather than automatically terminating their studies, the ministry directed the NCCE to conduct comprehensive accreditation of existing NCE II to IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The exercise will determine which programmes and centres meet the required standards and whether their students can continue towards graduation.

“Eligible students may complete their programmes, subject to accreditation outcomes and regulatory requirements,” the ministry said.

The decision means that permission to complete a programme is not automatic. It will depend on the findings of regulators and compliance with applicable academic requirements.

The ministry has not announced when the accreditation exercise will begin, how long it will take or how students whose programmes fail accreditation will be treated.

It also did not explain whether affected applicants who have already paid admission or registration fees will receive refunds.

These questions are particularly important for students who may have committed time and money to programmes whose regulatory status is now in doubt.

NTI to focus on teacher training and professional development

The ministry reiterated that the National Teachers’ Institute must concentrate on its statutory responsibilities, including teacher training, retraining, in-service education and continuous professional development.

Under the directive, the institute is expected to provide training that improves classroom teaching, educational methods and professional competence.

The ministry also identified a three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme intended for serving teachers who hold degrees outside education.

The programme is designed to equip such teachers with the professional teaching competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), subject to applicable regulations.

The government said its intervention was intended to protect students, maintain academic standards and prevent further enrolment into unauthorised programmes.

It advised prospective applicants to verify the accreditation and admission status of educational programmes with the appropriate regulatory authorities before making payments.

For students affected by the 2026 cancellation, the next developments will be the NCCE’s accreditation findings, the identification of compliant study centres and clarification of the arrangements for those unable to continue their studies.