FG bans the creation of any new federal universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education for the next five years following a decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday
The meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, approved the moratorium to curb duplication and prevent overstretching existing resources in the education sector.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said the real problem is no longer access to federal tertiary education but the strain caused by creating too many institutions.
“In our country, access to quality tertiary education is no longer the issue,” Alausa said. “What we are witnessing is unnecessary duplication, reduced institutional capacity, and a decline in infrastructure and manpower. If we fail to act decisively, educational quality will deteriorate and Nigerian graduates could lose their international standing.”
Alausa noted that Nigeria already has an extensive network of institutions—72 federal universities, 108 state universities, 159 private universities, plus hundreds of polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education. Despite this, many schools attract very few applicants.
“For the 2024–2026 academic sessions, about 2.1 million Nigerians applied to tertiary institutions,” he explained. “Yet 199 universities recorded fewer than 99 applicants, while 34 universities had none at all. The same pattern exists in polytechnics and colleges of education, with 295 polytechnics and 219 colleges drawing fewer than 99 candidates, and 64 colleges receiving zero applications.”
He cited one striking case in the North where a federal university has fewer than 800 students but employs more than 1,200 staff. “This is simply not sustainable,” Alausa said.
Going forward, the government will prioritise upgrading infrastructure, improving manpower, and boosting the capacity of existing schools rather than creating new ones.
The minister praised President Tinubu for his “unwavering commitment” to education reform, saying the president is determined to make Nigerian education globally competitive.
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