A constitutional amendment memorandum has been proposed to the House of Representatives Committee for the acquisition of Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ), as a key component of Nigeria’s educational system, to reduce unemployment, insecurity, and align education with industry needs.
The proposal, submitted to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitution Review, seeks to alter Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by inserting a new subsection 2(b) to mandate the government to “direct its policy objectives towards providing functional and productive education” by ensuring and recognizing MSQ at all levels of education.
According to the bill, MSQ is a certification system designed to assess and validate the skills and competencies of students beginning from the basic education level. It would be a requirement for secondary school graduates seeking admission into tertiary institutions or entering the workforce.
Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, who submitted the memo and chairs the SokotoDNA Heritage Development Initiative, said the reform would promote practical education under the mantra “Me Ka Iya, Ba Me Ka Karanta Ba (A Hada Biyun)”—which translates to “Not Just Theory, but Skills Too.”
He emphasized that implementing MSQ nationwide would drastically reduce over-dependence on government jobs, curtail youth restiveness, combat poverty and hunger, and improve Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.
“Government shall promote science and technology,” the proposed amendment states. “Government shall direct its policy objectives towards providing functional and productive education and to this end, ensure and recognize Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ) at all levels of education.”
To ensure successful implementation, the bill assigns the National Council on Skills (NCS), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other relevant authorities to develop operational guidelines and standards.
The proposal also recommends a phased rollout to accommodate existing infrastructure and train educators and assessors.
Kakale, an advocate of Almajiri and out-of-school children reforms, said the proposed Sixth Alteration Bill 2025, if passed, would “bridge the gap between schooling and real-life skills,” enabling graduates to become productive, self-reliant citizens and reduce national insecurity.
