The online platform, launched in September 2025 by the Minister of Education Maruf Alausa, was designed to streamline teacher registration, licensing, and certificate printing nationwide. The initiative, led by TRCN Registrar Dr Ronke Soyombo, formed part of broader reforms to restore professionalism and integrity in the teaching profession.
Teachers Voice Frustrations
Primary and secondary school teachers told our correspondent on Monday that the portal’s persistent technical failures have caused serious setbacks in teacher administration.
Femi Daniels, a primary school teacher in Abuja, described the ordeal:
“It seems to me it’s not easy to register for TRN. You waste a whole week trying to do one thing and always get the same result. I spent days trying to upload my documents every hour, but it always says ‘you’re not allowed to perform this action’ or ‘try again.’
“I went to Zenith Bank to purchase the form, but it was not available. This means if I want to register, I would have to travel more than 300 km and spend over ₦11,000 on transport. They are not making things easy, and that is why some people resort to paying illegally for certificates. By experience, fake certificates are issued. I once scanned a QR code, and behold, the name, registration number, and other details did not match.”
Sadiq Kehinde, a secondary school teacher in Gombe, added:
“Officials had promised that the digital platform would eliminate long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks and allow teachers to complete registration processes from the comfort of their homes. What happened to the millions of Naira invested in creating the portal?”
Another secondary school teacher in Kurudu, Abuja, who requested anonymity, highlighted how delays are affecting promotions and professional development:
“Some of us need our certificates for promotion. Now we have to go to banks, and some of the banks are telling us that they no longer have the form and that we have to register online.”
Stakeholders Respond
A coalition of concerned stakeholders confirmed that the portal, part of TRCN reforms under Dr Soyombo, has faced technical failures since January 2026. The breakdown has forced teachers back to manual registration at state TRCN offices, reviving the delays, paperwork, and administrative hurdles the digital system was intended to eliminate.
“Many affected educators say the situation has brought back the delays and bureaucratic processes that were supposed to be resolved by the digital platform,” the stakeholders said in a statement signed by Haliru Muhammed.
The setback comes as TRCN finalises its 2026–2028 Strategic Plan, which aims to integrate digital tools and artificial intelligence to improve teaching and administrative systems nationwide. Stakeholders warned that ongoing portal issues could compromise these modernisation efforts.
“We call on Dr Soyombo-led TRCN to urgently address the technical problems and provide clarity on the future of the portal. The credibility of teacher registration processes and the welfare of educators must not be compromised,” Lagos-based stakeholders emphasised.
Background
The TRCN was established under the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria Act (2004) to regulate teaching standards, license educators, and maintain professional ethics. The digital portal launched in 2025 represented a major effort to reduce bureaucracy and increase transparency in teacher management.
However, recurring failures highlight broader challenges in digital adoption across Nigeria’s public sector, including infrastructure deficits, inconsistent power supply, and limited system maintenance.
The Registrar, Dr Ronke Soyombo, was unavailable for comment at the time of filing this report.
Analysts warn that if the portal’s issues are not promptly resolved, the setbacks could:
- Affect nationwide teacher credentialing
- Delay promotion schedules
- Increase instances of fraudulent certification
Such outcomes could undermine ongoing efforts to strengthen education quality and professional standards across Nigeria.