The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
The decision, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, aims to address the declining quality and infrastructure challenges plaguing the nation’s tertiary education sector.
The moratorium, effective immediately, halts the creation of new federal tertiary institutions to focus resources on revitalizing existing ones. Dr. Alausa, speaking to State House correspondents after the FEC meeting in Abuja, emphasized that the proliferation of institutions has led to inefficiencies, including deteriorating infrastructure and a drop in graduate quality.
“Access to tertiary education is no longer the issue,” Alausa stated. “The challenge is the duplication of institutions, which has stretched resources thin and compromised quality.”
Data presented by the minister highlighted stark inefficiencies in the system. Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education, alongside numerous state and private institutions.
However, in the 2024/2025 academic session, 199 universities recorded fewer than 100 applicants through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), with 34 having zero applicants.
Similarly, 295 polytechnics and 64 colleges of education reported critically low or no applications.
Alausa cited an example of a federal university with fewer than 800 students but over 1,200 staff, underscoring the unsustainable resource allocation.
The FEC’s decision aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes quality education comparable to global standards.
Alausa noted that the moratorium will allow the government to channel funds into upgrading infrastructure, recruiting and training staff, and increasing the carrying capacity of existing institutions.
“We need to ensure our graduates remain competitive globally,” he said, warning that without intervention, the unemployment crisis could worsen due to graduates lacking essential skills.
In a related development, the FEC approved the establishment of nine new private universities, addressing pre-existing applications delayed by inefficiencies at the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Alausa clarified that out of 551 pending applications inherited by the current administration, only 79 were active, with nine meeting stringent requirements.
However, he hinted at future moratoriums on private institutions to maintain quality standards.
The move has sparked mixed reactions. Some stakeholders commend the focus on quality over quantity, while others argue it could limit access to education in underserved regions.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has yet to issue an official statement, but sources suggest the union may welcome the shift toward improving existing institutions, provided funding commitments are met.
The government has also allocated ₦110 billion through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for 18 health-focused universities, signaling a targeted approach to addressing critical gaps.
