NAL Faults Cancellation of 2022 National Language Policy, Calls for Immediate Reinstatement

The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) has criticised the decision of the 69th National Council on Education (NCE) to cancel the National Language Policy (NLP 2022), describing the move as a setback for the nation’s educational and cultural development.

The NCE, which met in Akure between November 3 and 6, 2025, approved English as the sole medium of instruction at all levels of education—a decision NAL says disregards decades of research and expert consensus.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Academy expressed “deep concern” over the policy reversal, noting that the NLP 2022 was the product of more than 40 years of advocacy, incremental decisions, and scholarly research supporting mother-tongue-based multilingual education. The policy had proposed that children be taught in their first language for the first six years of schooling.

NAL argued that the cancellation dismisses extensive expert input, public consultation, and globally recognised research showing that children learn better in their native languages. The Academy cited UNESCO guidelines and the work of renowned Nigerian scholar, Prof. Babs Fafunwa, whose Six-Year Ife Study remains one of the strongest empirical cases for mother-tongue education. It also referenced international examples such as Bolivia and Ghana, both of which have adopted multilingual education models with notable success.

The organisation described it as ironic that while other African countries continue to adopt approaches inspired by Nigeria’s model, Nigeria itself is reversing a policy it had yet to implement. It added that an approved implementation framework already exists under the NLP 2022, suggesting that concerns raised by the Minister of Education may stem from a lack of awareness of this provision.

According to NAL, the reversal poses serious implications, including the erosion of indigenous languages, threats to cultural identity, and the risk of symbolic and social exclusion for speakers of minority languages. The decision, it stressed, runs contrary to constitutional provisions and undermines national cohesion.

The Academy warned that denying children instruction in their mother tongue hampers cognitive development and cuts them off from the “deepest and most authentic sources of knowledge.” It questioned the “vehemence” with which the policy was discarded, given that it had not been put into practice.

Reaffirming its stance, NAL insisted that mother-tongue education is essential for educational excellence and cultural preservation. It argued that removing Nigerian languages from the core curriculum would weaken children’s intellectual development, contradict global best practices, and jeopardise long-term socio-cultural progress.

The Academy called on the Federal Government to immediately reinstate the National Language Policy (2022), invest in teacher training and indigenous language materials, and collaborate with linguistic experts for effective rollout. Civil society groups, cultural organisations, media, and international partners were also urged to advocate for linguistic rights and support multilingual education in line with UNESCO standards.

“Silence is not an option,” the Academy said, declaring that protecting Nigerian languages is a moral obligation to present and future generations.