Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the federal government’s directive prohibiting tertiary institutions from admitting candidates under the age of 18. He described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as “behaving like a lost sailor on a high sea.”
In a statement shared on social media, Atiku condemned the policy as “absurd” and “anti-scholarship,” arguing that it contradicts the principles of federalism and intellectual freedom.
The policy, announced by Education Minister Tahir Mamman, mandates that 18 is the minimum age for university admission under the 6-3-3-4 education system. Mamman explained that the decision was made out of concern that younger students may not be mature enough to handle university life.
Atiku argued that the policy is unconstitutional and represents an overreach of federal authority since education is on the concurrent list of responsibilities, where sub-national governments have greater roles. He emphasized that talented students, regardless of age, should be encouraged and supported, not excluded from higher education.
He urged intellectuals and proponents of educational freedom to speak out against the policy.
Atiku stated, “The policy goes against the concept of division of responsibilities in a federal system like ours, and illustrates how the Tinubu government behaves like a lost sailor on a high sea. How can such an anti-scholarship regulation be the logical step in addressing the many issues facing our educational system?”
He further noted, “The Nigerian constitution places education on the concurrent list, where sub-national governments have more authority than the federal government. Therefore, it is unconstitutional for the federal government to legislate on education in a manner akin to a decree.”
Atiku argued that the global best practice is to allow sub-national governments to create their own educational policies. He criticized the government for not considering provisions for specially gifted students, calling it an embarrassment to the country’s intellectual community.
He concluded, “If the federal government has any role in education, it should be to identify and offer scholarships to gifted students, regardless of their age, before they apply for university. This outdated policy should be condemned by everyone who values intellectual freedom and access to education.”