The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has directed lecturers in technical colleges who were recruited with only a bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) to obtain a master’s degree within five years or risk being reassigned to non-teaching roles.
The directive was contained in a circular dated September 10, 2025, signed by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Prof. Idris Bugaje.
NBTE, which regulates Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across Nigeria, said it was worried by the increasing number of lecturers who remain at entry-level qualifications without advancing their academic credentials, despite years of service.
“To safeguard the quality of teaching in technical schools, a moratorium of five years from the date of employment has now been approved for staff to obtain a master’s degree. Any lecturer who fails to comply within this period will automatically be converted to a non-teaching position,” the circular stated.
The Board further directed rectors and provosts of technical institutions nationwide to inform all affected staff and enforce the new rule without exception.
According to the NBTE, the policy, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at improving the academic standard of lecturers in technical and vocational education, ensuring they possess the advanced knowledge required to effectively train students in modern technical fields.
It also warned that compliance would be strictly monitored, stressing that academic advancement is now a condition for retaining teaching status in Nigeria’s technical institutions.
