Nigeria Senate passes bill to reform senior secondary education

The Nigerian Senate has passed the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for its second reading. Sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the legislation aims to strengthen the administration, coordination, and funding of public senior secondary education across the country.

The bill seeks to address critical challenges in the sector, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient instructional materials, and poorly equipped laboratories. Key provisions include the establishment of education boards at the state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) levels to bring interventions closer to local communities. Additionally, the amendment proposes targeted support for federal unity colleges and senior secondary schools operated by the Armed Forces.

During the plenary debate, Senator Bamidele emphasized that senior secondary education is vital for national development, serving as a foundation for higher education, technical training, and vocational skills. While the bill's objectives received support, Senator Adams Oshiomhole raised concerns regarding the lack of prior access to the bill's full text, noting that lawmakers require detailed copies to ensure existing loopholes in education laws are effectively addressed.