Institutional Reform and Conflict Resolution

The Federal Government has formally transferred the administration of the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), bringing to an end years of institutional rivalry with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). This move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria's skills development ecosystem and providing a clearer path for workforce training.

The development was announced during the official handover of the National Sector Skills Councils to the ITF at Skills House, Maitama, Abuja. Stakeholders at the ceremony described the reform as a major milestone in Nigeria's workforce development and technical skills agenda, signaling a unified approach to national competency standards.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje, declared that the long-running dispute between both institutions had been resolved through this policy shift.

The conflict between NBTE and ITF over the regulation of the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework is over. ITF is now in charge of the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework. They are regulated on the overall, while NBTE will limit itself to education and educational institutions.

— Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education

Delineation of Regulatory Mandates

Under the new arrangement facilitated by the Office of the Vice President through the National Council on Skills, the ITF will now administer the NSQF and serve as the Secretariat of the National Council on Skills. Additionally, the ITF will take over as the Secretariat of WorldSkills Nigeria, while the NBTE will concentrate exclusively on regulating formal technical and vocational education institutions.

The handover event was attended by key figures in Nigeria's skills development sector, including the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun; the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje; and the Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of Sector Skills Councils, A. B. Nagode.

Also present was the Chairman of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN), Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, who attended alongside management staff of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). The presence of diverse leadership underscored the broad impact this administrative shift will have across various economic sectors.

Impact on Sector-Specific Competencies

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Mr. Nkereuwem Onung pledged the commitment of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council to collaborate with the Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun. The goal of this partnership is to strengthen industrial tourism skills and improve workforce competencies across Nigeria's tourism industry to align with international benchmarks.

The HTSSCN, recently inaugurated by the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade, is mandated to drive competency standards, curriculum enhancement, and accreditation systems. The council also focuses on labor market intelligence and globally aligned certification frameworks for the hospitality industry.

Sector Skills Councils are designed to provide industry leadership by developing occupational standards and ensuring that workforce competencies remain aligned with labor market demands. The councils are expected to:

• Support curriculum development for technical training
• Improve certification systems across various trades
• Promote industry-led training initiatives
• Produce a highly skilled workforce to drive economic growth

Stakeholders expressed optimism that the handover would eliminate previous overlaps that affected the country's skills development architecture, allowing for a more efficient and industry-driven approach to economic competitiveness.