The Federal Government has clarified that the recruitment waiver process for federal universities remains in force, walking back impressions created by remarks delivered on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at a recent convocation.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the Federal Ministry of Education made the position known in a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the statement, the clarification follows remarks delivered on behalf of the President at the maiden convocation of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, on October 17, 2026. The ministry said those remarks gave a mistaken impression about the waiver process.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that federal tertiary institutions are still expected to submit their recruitment needs to the ministry for review by the Committee on Waiver and Recruitment before hiring staff.
The clarification matters because the issue has shifted before. In December 2023, the then Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced the removal of the waiver requirement. In April 2025, the ministry under Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa directed institutions with approved waivers to advertise vacancies publicly. It also reminded all institutions to submit their recruitment needs for review.
Stakeholders in the university system are likely to read Monday’s statement as a reaffirmation of ministerial oversight over staff recruitment in federal institutions.
CDA News Nigeria will follow developments and update readers as more details emerge.
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