NSSEC History

Background

Education is universally recognized as a powerful tool for national development. In Nigeria, senior secondary education holds a critical position within the educational system, bridging basic and tertiary levels of learning. At this stage, attitudes, skills, and academic excellence are cultivated, preparing students for meaningful contributions to society. Achieving global competitiveness in entrepreneurship, science, and technology hinges on the availability of quality manpower, which can only be realized through effective educational regulation at all levels.

Despite its pivotal role, senior secondary education remained the only sub-sector in Nigeria’s educational system without a dedicated regulatory body or agency for many years. This gap created challenges in maintaining quality standards and achieving desired outcomes.

The Evolution of Senior Secondary Education Regulation

The National Secondary Education Commission (NSEC) was established under the NSEC Law enacted in 2004 (LFN, 2004 Cap 73). However, following the disarticulation of junior secondary education into basic education, the law required amendment to reflect its new focus. This amendment transformed the commission into the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

The Birth of NSSEC

In April 2021, Prof. Benjamin Abakpa was appointed as the pioneer Executive Secretary of NSSEC. Under his leadership, the commission began its operations with an initial team of 60 staff members seconded from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). With its mandate clearly defined, the NSSEC has since emerged as a vital regulatory body, working to ensure that senior secondary education in Nigeria becomes a catalyst for national development and a pathway to global excellence.

It was in an attempt to bridge the gap and reposition senior secondary education, that the government established the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) in April, 2021.  The NSSEC Act of 1999 Cap No.73 LFN 004 was repealed and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act 2023 was enacted to regulate and intervene in Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria.  On 11th May 2023, the NSSEC Act 2023 was signed into law.