Department
Compliance and Enforcement
Strengthening compliance with teacher certification and licensing standards to promote professionalism and quality education in Nigeria.
Dr. Mary Ogbene Abah
Acting Director, Compliance and Enforcement
Dr. Mary Ogbene Abah is the Acting Director, Compliance and Enforcement Department of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). She is an experienced education administrator and regulatory professional with expertise in teacher professionalism, compliance, safeguarding, and education policy implementation.
She has contributed to several national and international education initiatives focused on teacher development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. At TRCN, she provides leadership in strengthening compliance with teacher certification and licensing standards to promote professionalism and quality education in Nigeria.
The Compliance and Enforcement Department of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) is responsible for ensuring that teachers, school leaders, educational institutions, and examination bodies comply with the provisions of the TRCN Act, professional standards, and regulatory requirements. The Department promotes professional integrity, safeguards teachers and learners, monitors compliance nationwide, investigates misconduct, and administers the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) and competency assessment for teachers and school leaders.
The Department is organised into four specialised divisions:
- Standards Compliance and Engagement Division
- Investigation, Safeguarding and Enforcement Division
- Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Division
- Examination Division
Together, these divisions work to strengthen professional regulation and quality assurance, enhance accountability, promote ethical conduct, and ensure standardised assessment of teaching competencies across Nigeria.
- Ensure compliance with TRCN registration, certification, and professional standards.
- Promote awareness and understanding of regulatory requirements among stakeholders.
- Investigate professional misconduct and enforce disciplinary measures.
- Safeguard learners’ and teachers’ rights and wellbeing in educational institutions.
- Collect, analyse, and report compliance data to support evidence-based decisions.
- Administer the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), Professional Qualifying Examination Integrated (PQEI), and Professional Qualifying Examination Development (PQED) as a prerequisite for certification and licensing.
- Prepare and release accurate examination results.
- Strengthen collaboration with ministries, agencies, schools, and examination bodies.
Divisions & Functions
- Ensures adherence to TRCN registration, certification, and professional standards.
- Develops compliance frameworks, guidelines, and checklists.
- Conducts compliance reviews, risk assessments, and audits.
- Sensitises stakeholders and liaises with relevant agencies and professional bodies.
- Drives campaign and advocacy activities.
- Receives and investigates reports of misconduct and violations.
- Operates reporting channels such as hotlines and whistleblower mechanisms.
- Conducts fact-finding inquiries with due process.
- Recommends sanctions and safeguards learners’ rights and wellbeing.
- Collects compliance data from states, schools, and institutions.
- Maintains a central compliance database.
- Produces periodic reports and dashboards.
- Tracks trends and recommends evidence-based policy decisions.
- Administers the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) to qualified teachers.
- Ensures standardised assessment and evaluation of teaching competencies.
- Coordinates examination logistics and supervision.
- Processes, prepares, and presents examination results.
The Compliance and Enforcement Department serves as a critical regulatory arm of TRCN. Through its four divisions, the Department ensures compliance with professional standards, investigates misconduct, monitors nationwide activities, and administers the Professional Qualifying Examination to maintain and enhance the quality of the teaching profession in Nigeria.