In a significant development within Nigeria’s education sector, Professor Josiah Ajiboye has reportedly resigned from his position as Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
His departure follows the resignation of Professor Abubakar Abdulrasheed, who stepped down as Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) over a year ago.
Ajiboye, who spoke as the guest speaker at an event organised by the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) to commemorate the 2024 International Teachers’ Day in Abuja on Friday, simply identified himself solely as a staff member of the University of Ibadan, raising eyebrows regarding his status.
While the reasons behind Ajiboye’s resignation have yet to be disclosed, sources indicate that Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman has not officially commented on the matter.
Ajiboye, who took office in 2016 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is credited with transforming the TRCN and ensuring that only certified teachers are recognized as professionals in the field.
His tenure also saw the Federal Government classified the TRCN as a revenue-generating body, which resulted in the cessation of government funding. The decision has faced backlash from various education stakeholders who argue it undermines the agency’s effectiveness.
Ajiboye’s resignation now leaves three federal education agencies without substantive leadership. Notably, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Prof. Junaidu Ismail, passed away in June 2024, and Abdulrasheed resigned from the NUC in 2023.