FG Places Seven-Year Ban on New Federal Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges

FG has banned new federal tertiary institutions for seven years over low enrolment and wasted resources, approving nine private universities instead.

The Federal Government has imposed a seven-year moratorium on establishing new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, blaming the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, overstretched resources, and a decline in academic quality.

The decision, approved at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, followed a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Alausa explained that the main challenge facing Nigeria’s tertiary education was no longer access but inefficiency, poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and dwindling enrolment in many institutions.

“Several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students. In one northern university, there are 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students. This is a waste of government resources,” he said.

Statistics showed that 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications through JAMB last year, with 34 getting zero applications. Many polytechnics and colleges of education also posted poor or no enrolment figures.

Alausa warned that unchecked proliferation of poorly subscribed institutions risked producing ill-prepared graduates, eroding the value of Nigerian degrees internationally, and worsening unemployment.

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The moratorium will allow the government to focus on upgrading facilities, hiring qualified staff, and increasing the carrying capacity of existing schools.

Despite the freeze, the FEC approved nine new private universities, whose applications had been pending for years and had passed full evaluation by the National Universities Commission.

The minister confirmed that the ban also covers new private polytechnics and colleges of education, describing the reform as a “reset button” for Nigeria’s tertiary education.

“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.