President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has exempted federal universities from the requirement to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) before employing new staff, in a move aimed at strengthening institutional autonomy and easing recruitment bottlenecks in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

Tinubu announced the policy change on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), in Bauchi State. He was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono.

The President, who serves as Visitor to all federal universities, said the reform was reflected in recent agreements signed between the Federal Government and university staff unions.

According to him, the decision would empower the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils to take responsibility for recruitment decisions and respond more effectively to their institutions’ staffing needs.

“This measure empowers the Federal Ministry of Education and university Governing Councils to discharge their respective responsibilities in staff recruitment, enabling institutions to respond more effectively to their legitimate manpower needs,” Tinubu said.

The removal of the waiver requirement is expected to reduce administrative delays that can hinder universities from filling vacant positions, replacing retiring employees and recruiting additional academic and non-academic personnel.

Under the previous arrangement, federal institutions could be required to obtain clearance from the OHCSF before recruiting new employees. Removing this requirement for federal universities is intended to give university authorities greater flexibility in addressing staffing shortages and managing their operations.

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However, the reform does not mean that universities are exempt from all public-sector recruitment rules or that appointments can be made without appropriate institutional procedures.

Tinubu said the policy formed part of his administration’s broader efforts to strengthen university autonomy, improve personnel management and create a more conducive environment for teaching, research, innovation and service delivery.

The President also disclosed that the Federal Government was working to improve personnel and payroll administration across tertiary institutions by migrating their staff from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

He said the transition was intended to improve payroll efficiency, strengthen transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the operational peculiarities of universities and other tertiary institutions.

The proposed changes come amid longstanding discussions about the autonomy of Nigerian universities, including their ability to manage staffing, finances and other internal administrative responsibilities.

For universities struggling with shortages of lecturers, researchers, laboratory personnel and other essential workers, the removal of the recruitment waiver requirement could make it easier to respond to vacancies, subject to available funding and applicable recruitment procedures.

Beyond recruitment and payroll reforms, Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in tertiary education infrastructure, research and staff welfare.

He disclosed that FUHSA had received an initial ₦8 billion intervention through TETFund to support its establishment. He said the investment followed lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare system and highlighted the need to strengthen medical education and research capacity.

According to the President, further support would be channelled to the university through TETFund’s regular and special interventions, alongside allocations in the 2026 national budget for roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.

Tinubu also announced that ₦10 billion had been provided for the National Research Fund in 2026, urging universities, particularly specialised institutions such as FUHSA, to pursue research that addresses Nigeria’s pressing healthcare challenges.

On staff welfare, he said the Federal Government had signed agreements with academic and non-academic unions covering the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), effective January 1, 2026.

He said the agreements recognised the distinct but complementary contributions of teaching and non-teaching personnel to the effective running of tertiary institutions.

Tinubu further disclosed that 1,798 FUHSA students, representing 43 per cent of the institution’s student population, had secured support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The President congratulated the university’s 50 pioneer graduates and urged them to apply their knowledge and professional skills to improving healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.

He also encouraged FUHSA to strengthen partnerships with international institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia, while ensuring that such collaborations translate into measurable improvements in teaching, research and healthcare services.

The recruitment reform is expected to attract attention from university administrators, lecturers, non-academic staff and prospective employees as institutions assess how the new arrangement will affect recruitment timelines and staffing priorities.

Its impact will ultimately depend on how effectively university governing councils and the Federal Ministry of Education implement the policy, alongside adequate funding, transparent recruitment processes and effective oversight.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reopened its National Identification Number (NIN) alignment service, giving eligible candidates another opportunity to correct discrepancies between their examination records and information held by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The examination body announced the development on Friday, October 16, 2026, through its official social media account, urging candidates with mismatched personal details to take advantage of the reopening and ensure their records are consistent.

However, JAMB warned that the opportunity is a one-time exercise and that submitting an application does not guarantee approval. All requests will be subjected to verification before a decision is made.

The board advised candidates to correct any errors in their NIN records through NIMC before applying to align their details with their JAMB profiles.

Applicants were also urged to review their information carefully and select every correction they require in a single submission to avoid mistakes that could affect the outcome of their applications.

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The discrepancies may involve names, dates of birth and other personal information, depending on the fields approved for correction under the service.

JAMB explained that the application procedure, eligible fields, verification requirements and other important details had been outlined in an accompanying episode of its JAMB Explained video series.

Candidates were advised to watch the official guide and follow the prescribed steps before submitting their applications. The board also cautioned against rushing the process or providing incomplete information.

To avoid complications, candidates should first ensure that any approved changes to their NIN records have been fully reflected in the NIMC database before beginning the alignment process with JAMB.

Those who need to update their NIN information can use the NIMC self-service modification portal at https://selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng or visit an authorised NIMC centre, subject to the applicable requirements.

After correcting their NIN details, candidates should follow the application channel and instructions specified in JAMB’s official announcement and accompanying video. They should rely on the board’s official website, https://www.jamb.gov.ng, and its e-Facility portal, https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng, for verified guidance.

The reopening is intended to improve the accuracy and consistency of personal records used in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, where discrepancies between examination and national identity records can create verification difficulties.

JAMB urged candidates to act carefully, ensure that their information is accurate and wait for official confirmation rather than assume that their applications have been approved.