FG Abandons Mother Tongue Policy, Returns to English Language

The Federal Government has officially cancelled the 2022 National Language Policy, which required schools to teach pupils in their mother tongue from early childhood to Primary Six. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy reversal at the Language in Education International Conference 2025, hosted by the British Council in Abuja on November 12.

Alausa said English would now be reinstated as the language of instruction at all levels of education. He explained that the previous policy had undermined learning outcomes, with many students unable to read or write effectively despite advancing through school. According to him, the ministry’s findings showed that this language approach contributed to poor performance in national examinations.

The minister also noted that Nigeria’s linguistic diversity made the mother tongue policy impractical. “Exams are conducted in English, but we taught these kids in their local languages. In Borno, many students speak Kanuri; in Lagos, you have children from the southeast taught by teachers from the southwest. We need a unified language of instruction,” he said.

British Council Country Director, Donna McGowan, stated that the conference’s goal was to strengthen English learning while promoting inclusivity. She emphasized the importance of aligning language policy with the realities of Nigeria’s multicultural education system.