Coordination of Adult Education Services Between Federal and State Agencies in Nasarawa State

This study investigated the coordination of adult education services between federal and state government agencies in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. Effective inter-agency coordination is a prerequisite for coherent adult education policy implementation, yet duplication of effort, jurisdictional conflicts, and communication gaps between federal and state bodies frequently undermine programme efficiency and reach. The study adopted a descriptive survey design involving 55 senior officials from the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, the Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, and the State Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education. Questionnaires, interview guides, and policy document analyses were utilised. Findings revealed significant coordination gaps, including parallel programme delivery structures that created confusion among communities and facilitators, inconsistent funding flows from federal to state levels, and limited joint monitoring and evaluation activities. Communication between federal and state officials was largely informal and reactive rather than structured through formal coordination mechanisms. The study found that some local government areas had access to both federal and state programme resources while others had none, reflecting planning inefficiencies. Recommendations include establishing a formal Federal-State Adult Education Joint Coordination Committee for Nasarawa, developing a unified adult education data management system shared by both levels of government, harmonising facilitator deployment protocols, and conducting biannual inter-agency planning meetings to align programme priorities and resources. Keywords: inter-agency coordination, adult education, federal-state relations, Nasarawa State, governance.