The Federal Government has announced that Mathematics will no longer be compulsory for students seeking admission into universities and polytechnics to study Arts and Humanities courses.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the new policy—part of the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions—aims to remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform would expand access to higher education, increasing annual admissions from about 700,000 to one million students.

He explained that the decision was taken after years of limited access, which left many qualified candidates unable to gain admission despite meeting other requirements.

Mathematics remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science programs, while English Language continues to be mandatory across all disciplines.