Alausa in, Mamman out as Tinubu sacks education minister

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, as the new Minister of Education.

This appointment follows the dismissal of the former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

The President also reassigned the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, as the new Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

A medical doctor specialising in nephrology, Dr. Alausa studied Medicine & Surgery at the University of Lagos, graduating in 1993. He completed his residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, where he served as Chief Medical Resident.

Prof. Mamman’s removal comes two weeks after the unveiling of the new curriculum for basic education in Nigeria, scheduled to begin in January 2025.

It remains uncertain whether the new curriculum will launch as planned under the new minister.

Prof. Mamman’s tenure faced controversy due to the Federal Government’s introduction of an 18-year age limit for admission seekers into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

At the 2024 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the minister announced the policy, setting 18 years as the minimum age for tertiary admissions.

The decision sparked widespread debate and opposition from institutional leaders, including Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.