The Katsina State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 32 private tertiary institutions found operating without proper accreditation or licences from regulatory bodies. The Commissioner for Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Muhammad Isah Kankara, disclosed this during the 2026 pre-budget defence session before a committee chaired by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic …
Katsina Shuts Down 32 Unaccredited Tertiary Institutions
The Katsina State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 32 private tertiary institutions found operating without proper accreditation or licences from regulatory bodies.
The Commissioner for Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr Muhammad Isah Kankara, disclosed this during the 2026 pre-budget defence session before a committee chaired by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, in Katsina.
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Dr Kankara revealed that an investigation by the ministry uncovered several private tertiary schools running illegally without meeting national standards. He said the government’s decision to shut down the institutions was aimed at protecting students and safeguarding the quality of education across the state.
“Our findings show that a number of these private tertiary institutions have been operating without approval from relevant regulatory bodies,” Dr Kankara stated.
He, however, acknowledged that the closures had negatively affected the ministry’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) projections for the 2026 fiscal year. According to him, income from tertiary institutions will drop significantly compared to previous years since most of the affected schools were key revenue contributors.
“Our expectations for IGR this year will be lower than usual because many of these private schools, which used to generate revenue for the state, have been suspended. We can only restore those funds when they regularise their operations,” he explained.
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During the session, Budget Committee Chairman Malik Anas directed the ministry to present a detailed list of all licensed and unlicensed tertiary institutions, alongside their respective revenue projections. He stressed the need for transparency and realistic budgeting, urging the ministry to make such data publicly accessible.
In response, Dr Kankara confirmed that the ministry was compiling the necessary information and would submit a comprehensive report to the committee. He added that only seven out of 39 private tertiary institutions currently meet regulatory standards and remain operational in the state.
The committee commended the ministry for its vigilance and regulatory enforcement but instructed it to provide updated records of all tertiary institutions before and after the closure exercise. It also tasked the ministry with forecasting the number of schools expected to regain accreditation before the next fiscal year to support accurate budget planning.
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The closure of unaccredited institutions forms part of Katsina State’s broader efforts to sanitise the education sector, enhance institutional accountability, and ensure full compliance with national quality benchmarks.
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