TALK WITHOUT WALK: INDIGENOUS NATIONAL LANGUAGE POLICY AND GOVERNMENT INACTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examines the implementation and abrupt reversal of
Nigeria's 2022 National Language Policy, which mandated the use of
indigenous languages as the medium of instruction for the first six
years of schooling. The policy which was introduced by the former
Education Minister Adamu Adamu to leverage linguistic diversity for
improved educational outcomes, was officially scrapped in November
2025 by Education Minister Tunji Alausa, who cited poor academic
results in regions that had adopted mother-tongue instruction.
Through qualitative analysis of policy documents, stakeholder
perspectives, and implementation challenges, this study reveals a
profound disconnect between policy rhetoric and governmental
action. The research identifies critical implementation gaps,
including inadequate teacher training, insufficient instructional
materials, examination misalignment, and limited stakeholder
engagement as primary factors undermining the policy's potential.
The findings suggest that Nigeria's language policy challenges reflect
broader issues of policy continuity and implementation capacity in
multilingual postcolonial states. This study contributes to the
understanding of how language policies succeed or fail in complex
multilingual environments and offers evidence-based
recommendations for developing more sustainable approaches to
indigenous language education in Nigeria.