Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval for Bill to Strengthen Senior Secondary Education Governance

President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to the Senate, seeking legislative approval for reforms aimed at strengthening the governance and administration of public senior secondary education across Nigeria.

The proposed legislation was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Thursday’s plenary. In the letter, President Tinubu said the amendment forms part of his administration’s broader efforts to improve the country’s education system by reinforcing the institutional framework responsible for overseeing senior secondary education.

According to the President, the bill received approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting on April 30, 2026, before undergoing legal scrutiny and final drafting by the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure compliance with constitutional and legislative standards.

Tinubu urged the Senate to accord the bill expeditious consideration, expressing confidence that its passage would support ongoing efforts to strengthen educational institutions in the national interest.

Following the reading of the President’s communication, Senate President Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action, directing the committee to report back to the chamber within one week.

The amendment bill comes amid the Federal Government’s wider education reform agenda. It follows recent announcements by the Minister of Education, who disclosed plans to review the long-standing separation between Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS), arguing that the existing structure has contributed to enrolment imbalances and hindered students’ progression through the education system.

If passed by the National Assembly, the amendment is expected to strengthen the operational mandate of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission and support ongoing reforms designed to improve access, coordination and quality in Nigeria’s secondary education sector.