The Federal Government has announced a seven-year suspension on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
The decision, aimed at addressing the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, dwindling academic standards, and overstretched funding, was approved on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who presented the proposal to the council, said the move was necessary to consolidate and strengthen existing institutions before expanding the nation’s higher education network.
According to him, the country has witnessed a rapid rise in the number of federally owned tertiary institutions over the past decade, many of which are operating below capacity due to inadequate infrastructure, limited teaching staff, and insufficient funding.
“Our priority now is to ensure that the federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education we already have are adequately staffed, well-funded, and capable of delivering high-quality education,” Alausa stated.
He added that the moratorium would give the government time to channel resources into rehabilitating facilities, training educators, and expanding research opportunities in existing institutions.
The minister also revealed that the suspension does not apply to state-owned or privately owned tertiary institutions, but encouraged state governments to also prioritise strengthening their existing schools before creating new ones.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions among education stakeholders, with some applauding the focus on quality over quantity, while others argue that new institutions are still needed to address the country’s rising demand for higher education.
