Senate Passes Bill To Overhaul Senior Secondary Education

The Senate has passed a bill seeking to amend the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act No. 45, 2023, in a move aimed at strengthening the regulation, administration and coordination of public senior secondary education across the country.

The bill, titled National Senior Secondary Education Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1075), was passed on Wednesday following the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary).

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), who presented the committee’s report on behalf of its chairman, Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central), said the proposed amendments were designed to address gaps identified in the implementation of the existing law.

Kalu recalled that the Senate had, on October 28, 2026, considered the bill and referred it to the committee for further legislative scrutiny.

He described the legislation as an Executive Bill aimed at strengthening the administration and coordination of public senior secondary education across the federation.

According to him, the National Senior Secondary Education Commission was established under the 2023 Act to regulate and promote the development of senior secondary education in Nigeria.

However, he said experience from the implementation of the law had exposed shortcomings requiring legislative intervention to improve the Commission’s effectiveness.

Kalu said the amendments were intended to strengthen the Commission’s governance structure, improve collaboration between federal and state governments, promote accountability and ensure effective implementation of national education policies.

He also disclosed that the House of Representatives had considered the same bill and referred it to its Committee on Basic Education and Services for legislative action.

He said the development necessitated a joint stakeholders’ hearing and clause-by-clause consultations to ensure careful consideration of the proposed amendments and harmonisation of legislative positions.

Kalu said the committee had carefully examined submissions, contributions and recommendations received from stakeholders during its consideration of the bill.

Following the presentation, the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole, considered the bill clause by clause and adopted the committee’s recommendations before passing it for third reading.

The legislative action comes amid concerns over weak coordination between federal and state education authorities, inadequate oversight of senior secondary schools, funding challenges and inconsistencies in the implementation of national education policies.

The National Senior Secondary Education Commission is responsible for setting standards, coordinating policies and supporting the development of senior secondary education nationwide.

Its mandate includes supporting curriculum implementation, promoting teacher development, establishing infrastructure standards, monitoring educational delivery, and collaborating with state ministries of education and senior secondary education boards.

With the Senate’s passage, the bill is expected to proceed through the remaining legislative process, including concurrence by the House of Representatives and presidential assent, before becoming law.

When enacted, the amended legislation is expected to provide a clearer framework for the Commission’s operations, strengthen its governance, and define its relationship with state governments.

The proposed changes are also intended to reinforce the role of senior secondary education as a critical link between basic education, tertiary institutions, technical and vocational training, and the labour market.

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