The success of any education programme depends largely on the language used for instruction. In Nigeria, English is used as a language of instruction right from the primary school to higher institutions. Students in higher institutions are expected to learn different skills in English language in order to improve their performance in various courses studied in the school. Thus, critical reading skill in English is one of the skills needed when they read academic materials such as textbooks, journals and research works that could help them analyse, synthesise and evaluate what is read. This paper discusses the role of language in higher institutions, the concept of critical reading and some basic steps in critical reading. It also highlights some basic strategies for instruction in critical reading and the roles of this kind of reading in language education. The paper among others, recommends that critical reading should be incorporated in the curriculum of language education in higher institutions through the use of English and it should be taught alongside some courses to promote students’ high order thinking skills.