The Federal Government has officially removed mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into Nigerian universities and polytechnics to study arts and humanities-related courses.
Under the new guideline, arts and humanities students are no longer required to present a credit in mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the West African Examinations Council or the National Examinations Council before they can qualify for admission into universities or polytechnics.
According to the Ministry, the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions have been overhauled to reflect the diversity of academic disciplines and align with modern global education standards.
The updated framework now categorizes requirements by discipline and institution type. For universities, a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings, will be required.
Mathematics remains compulsory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses. For polytechnics (ND), four credit passes are required, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-based programs.
Polytechnics (HND) will require five credit passes, including English and Mathematics, while colleges of education (NCE) will require four credit passes with English mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science and Technical programs.
The Ministry noted that the new policy applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies nationwide.
Speaking on the reform, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described it as a deliberate step to expand access to tertiary education and bridge the persistent admission gap that has left many qualified candidates without university placements.
According to the Minister, Nigeria records an average of two million Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidates yearly, yet only about 700,000 gain admission due to restrictive entry requirements and limited institutional capacity.
“The new policy is a deliberate effort to expand access and create opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 admissions every year,” he stated. “It reflects our commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed.”
The government projects that the policy could raise the annual tertiary intake to about one million students, boosting human capital development and aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Education analysts have largely welcomed the reform, describing it as long overdue and student-friendly. According to Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, an Abuja-based education consultant, the decision addresses a recurring problem where brilliant students were denied university admission because they struggled with mathematics, even when applying for arts disciplines that do not rely on mathematical competence.
“This reform will give many young Nigerians a second chance,” he said. “For years, we have lost potential writers, historians, linguists, and artists to systemic rigidity that had no academic justification.”
University administrators also view the reform as a rational adjustment that will broaden enrollment without lowering standards, provided institutions maintain strict screening in discipline-specific subjects.
The new framework is expected to reduce admission bottlenecks, especially in arts, humanities, and education programs, while encouraging innovation in curriculum development. Observers believe it may also increase female participation in higher education, as failure in mathematics has historically been a leading cause of admission rejection among female candidates.
By separating discipline-specific requirements and easing unnecessary constraints, the Federal Government aims to build a more inclusive tertiary education system capable of accommodating Nigeria’s growing youth population.