A non-governmental organization, Education for Accelerated Development (EDAD), has commended President Bola Tinubu for his recent decision to reshuffle his cabinet. The group particularly praised the removal of Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education, calling it a step in the right direction.
According to Vanguard, the Minister was among five cabinet members dismissed by President Tinubu on Wednesday in a bid to reposition the National Executive Council for effective service delivery.
In a release on Thursday, the national coordinator of EDAD, Dr. Livinus Mbaonu, emphasized that the decision to change the Minister of Education was justified.
EDAD outlined ten reasons that may have contributed to Tahir Mamman’s dismissal, including:
- Providing Misinformation Leading to Diplomatic Conflict: Mamman’s statements reportedly caused a diplomatic misunderstanding between Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo, which resulted in the suspension of degree programs from universities in those countries.
- Misrepresenting Accredited Universities in Benin: He inaccurately claimed that only three universities in Benin were accredited, while the actual number exceeds 50, creating confusion regarding the legitimacy of these institutions.
- Denial of NYSC Scheme to Foreign Students: His mishandling of foreign students’ participation in the NYSC scheme led to thousands of Nigerian graduates from Benin and Togo being denied entry into the program. Additionally, the Ministry of Education failed to address the needs of stranded foreign students with unpaid or delayed scholarships, causing significant challenges.
- Interagency Conflicts: Under Mamman’s leadership, conflicts arose among key educational bodies such as the NBTE, NUC, NYSC, and JAMB. This lack of coordination resulted in conflicting information, which hindered graduates’ participation in the NYSC or professional examinations.
Furthermore, EDAD criticized the former Minister’s inefficiency in accreditation processes, noting that despite visiting over 50 universities for accreditation within a year, none were approved, highlighting bureaucratic delays and inefficiency.
The group also claimed that Mamman’s interference in agency appointments across various educational institutions led to dissatisfaction and inefficiency in their management.