The Federal Government has clarified that federal tertiary institutions must continue to obtain recruitment waivers before employing additional personnel, following confusion over remarks made on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at a university convocation.

The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the existing recruitment waiver process remained in force.

The clarification followed remarks delivered on behalf of the President at the maiden convocation of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, on October 17, 2026, which reportedly created the impression that the requirement had been scrapped.

The ministry explained that approval of staff establishments and authorisation to recruit were separate processes, adding that neither had been discontinued.

According to the statement, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation retains responsibility for approving establishment waivers, determining authorised staff strength and assessing manpower requirements across federal institutions.

However, requests by tertiary institutions to recruit beyond their approved establishments are considered by a separate committee chaired by the Minister of Education.

The committee evaluates institutions’ staffing needs against their approved establishments before deciding whether additional recruitment is justified. The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is also represented on the committee to ensure compliance with approved manpower structures and existing procedures.

The ministry said the arrangement, which had operated for several years, was designed to promote institutional efficiency and autonomy while maintaining controls over public-sector recruitment.

“All requests must continue to comply strictly with the established approval process,” the ministry stressed.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, due process and accountability, the ministry said the continued application of the protocol was consistent with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement did not announce any new policy, but emphasised that existing procedures governing recruitment approvals in federal tertiary institutions remained operational.