FG inaugurates education project board, sets N20bn approval threshold to boost transparency

The federal government has established the Ministerial Project Approval Board (MPAB) to enhance accountability, transparency, and infrastructure delivery in the education sector through improved Public–Private Partnership (PPP) mechanisms.

Tunji Alausa, minister of education, disclosed this in a post on the Ministry’s official X handle on Tuesday, noting that the reform aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on new project approval thresholds.

The initiative, he said, is designed to ensure faster, value-driven, and transparent project execution across the education sector.

Under the new framework, the Ministry of Education and its parastatals are now empowered to approve projects valued up to ₦20 billion. In contrast, projects exceeding that amount will require approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

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Alausa explained that the MPAB would serve as a central mechanism to streamline decision-making, enhance efficiency, and foster collaboration with private investors in the delivery of critical education infrastructure.

Abel Olamuyiwa Enitan, permanent secretary of the ministry, described the development as a landmark step in project governance, stressing that it would deepen accountability, attract private sector participation, and promote timely project implementation.

During the inauguration, a Public–Private Partnership proposal for the development of facilities at Federal Government College, Kano, was presented as the first project under the new approval system.

According to the Ministry, the MPAB represents a major stride toward institutional reform, ensuring that education sector investments are guided by transparency, fiscal prudence, and measurable impact in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.