Linguistics Association Of Nig Warns Against Reversal Of National Language Policy

The Linguistics Association of Nigeria has warned against the reversal of the National Language Policy.

This followed deliberations at the just-concluded 36th Conference of the Linguistics Association of Nigeria (CLAN) held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK), Awka.

In a statement, the Linguistics Association of Nigeria (LAN) called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Council on Education (NCE) to as a matter of urgency, halt the proposed reversal of the 2022 National Language Policy.

According to the statement, LAN warned that abandoning the policy—which mandates Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) at the early childhood and primary levels—would constitute a major national setback, undermining decades of research, consultation, and international collaboration.

The Association emphasized that the 2022 Policy is “not an administrative preference but a pedagogical necessity and a moral obligation to Nigerian children.”

Reversing it, therefore, LAN cautioned, would erode learning outcomes, devalue indigenous languages, and weaken the credibility of national education reforms.

Quoting the National President, Professor Gideon Omachonu, the statement noted that the 2022 National Language Policy was adopted after extensive nationwide consultations and gives practical effect to the long-standing provision of the National Policy on Education, which stipulates that early instruction should be delivered in the language of the immediate environment.

According to Professor Omachonu, the policy also aligns with UNESCO’s framework on inclusive education, the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education for All), and Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to cultural preservation and social inclusion.

The statement further explains that both local and international research including the landmark Six-Year Primary Project—have consistently shown that mother-tongue education enhances literacy, numeracy, and cognitive development.

The Association expressed deep concern that elements of the proposed “Smarter Generation Curriculum” appear to:

Remove “One Nigerian Language” from the list of core compulsory subjects;

Limit focus to only a few major languages, thereby excluding hundreds of others; and
Omit explicit recognition of the 2022 National Language Policy.

These actions, LAN advises run contrary to both national and international best practices.

No nation can build a smarter generation by silencing the languages of its people as educational excellence begins with linguistic inclusion, not exclusion,” the statement concluded.

PR: Florence Adewale