The Federal Government has imposed a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal tertiary educational institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This decision was made during the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that the moratorium aims to address the proliferation of underutilized institutions, overstretched resources, and declining academic quality. “In our country, access to quality financial education is no longer an issue. What we are witnessing today is duplication of new federal tertiary institutions, a significant reduction in the current capacity of each institution, and degradation of both physical infrastructure and manpower,” Alausa said.
“If we do not act decisively, it will lead to marked declines in educational quality and undermine the international respect that Nigerian graduates command,” he added. The minister emphasized that the focus will now shift to strengthening existing institutions by upgrading facilities, recruiting qualified staff, and expanding their carrying capacity.
Alausa cited alarming statistics, noting that 199 universities had fewer than 100 applicants via JAMB last year, with 34 recording zero interest, while 64 colleges of education saw no applicants at all. He also mentioned that some federal universities operate far below capacity, citing an example of a northern university with fewer than 800 students but over 1,200 staff members.
Despite the ban, the Federal Executive Council approved nine new private universities that had undergone rigorous evaluation. Alausa assured that similar restrictions would soon apply to private polytechnics and colleges to prevent further overexpansion.
The Minister commended President Tinubu for supporting the reform, stating that it marks a significant shift in national education policy. “Mr. President believes fervently in education and has given us the mandate to ensure every Nigerian has access to the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world,” Alausa added.