FG declares 7-year ban on creation of new tertiary institutions
In a move aimed at tackling the challenges facing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the Federal Government has announced a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
This decision, which was approved during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting led by President Bola Tinubu, comes amid concerns about the proliferation of under-utilized institutions, overstretched resources, and declining academic quality.
Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, highlighted the pressing issues within the education system, stating, “The challenge in Nigeria’s tertiary education system is no longer access but inefficient duplication, poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and dwindling enrolment in many existing institutions.”
According to Alausa, many federal universities operate well below their capacity. He pointed out that in some cases, institutions have more staff than students, illustrating a significant misallocation of resources. For instance, a university in the north has 1,200 staff members but serves fewer than 800 students, raising concerns about the waste of government funding.
The statistics presented by the minister are alarming: 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) last year, and 34 recorded no applications at all.
The situation at polytechnics and colleges of education is similarly troubling, with many institutions receiving scant interest from prospective students.
Alausa warned that without intervention, the unchecked proliferation of such institutions could lead to graduates who are ill-prepared for the job market, jeopardizing the reputation of Nigerian degrees on the international stage.
He emphasized that the moratorium would allow the government to focus on upgrading facilities, hiring qualified staff, and increasing the capacity of existing institutions.
“If we want to improve quality and not be a laughing stock globally, the pragmatic step is to pause the establishment of new federal institutions,” he stated.
Currently, Nigeria is home to 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education, alongside numerous state-owned and private institutions. Despite the moratorium, Alausa mentioned that the FEC approved nine new private universities, which had been awaiting approval for up to six years, emphasizing that these had met stringent criteria set by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The minister also clarified that the moratorium extends to private polytechnics and colleges of education to curb under-enrollment further. He praised President Tinubu for endorsing the educational reforms, calling it a “reset button” for Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
“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 concluded.
Source: The Nation
