The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Professor Salisu Shehu, has raised alarm over the severe state of infrastructure decay at the council, which he says is hindering its ability to effectively fulfill its mandate.
During a courtesy visit by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad Said, to the NERDC headquarters in Sheda, Abuja, Professor Shehu appealed for the Federal Ministry of Education’s intervention, noting that the council is not adequately funded. While NERDC remains on the list of government-funded agencies, it reportedly receives little to no capital budget, making renovation and basic infrastructural improvements nearly impossible.
NERDC plays a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s educational landscape, with responsibilities that include policy implementation, curriculum and book development, as well as conducting vital educational research. Professor Shehu emphasized the council’s continued commitment to delivering on its core mandates but admitted that its deteriorating facilities require immediate attention to sustain operations.
The minister’s visit aimed to familiarize herself with the council’s activities and assess the level of support needed from the government as part of broader education reforms. Professor Shehu, while thanking her for the visit, said he intentionally invited the minister to witness firsthand the infrastructure challenges facing NERDC. He stressed that the council, as the think-tank of Nigeria’s educational system, needs a conducive environment to conduct research and drive national education development.
Highlighting NERDC’s core functions, Professor Shehu said these include designing and conducting policy-driven educational research, developing a National Book Policy, and driving curriculum development across all levels of education in Nigeria.
In response, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad Said expressed confidence in the capabilities of the NERDC leadership and commended Professor Shehu for his understanding of the council’s mission. She assured that the Ministry of Education would offer full support to help NERDC operate at maximum capacity.
However, the minister raised concerns over recurring complaints from Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) about publishers frequently revising schoolbooks unnecessarily, which she said leads to resource wastage. She called for a National Book Policy that stipulates a defined time frame before any book revision is allowed.
She also addressed the inconsistencies in the implementation of Nigeria’s National Language Policy across states. While some states use mother tongue instruction only up to Primary 3, others extend it to Primary 6 or even into secondary school. She urged NERDC to factor these concerns into the ongoing review of the National Language Policy, as approved by the National Council on Education.
Finally, the minister stressed the need for thorough assessments of existing educational policies before any revisions are made, emphasizing that all newly approved policies must be uniformly implemented nationwide.
