
……Move Aims to Curb Duplication, Upgrade Standards, and Boost Capacity in Existing Schools
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
The decision, taken at Wednesday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is aimed at halting the unchecked proliferation of institutions that operate far below capacity and improving the quality of existing ones.
‘Access Is Not the Problem — Quality Is’
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, represented by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu (or Tunji Alausa if accurate to source), said the country had reached a saturation point in terms of federal tertiary institutions.
According to Alausa, many universities currently run far below their potential, with some federal universities having fewer than 2,000 students despite massive government funding.
He gave a striking example:
“In one northern university, there are 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students. This is a waste of government resources and cannot be justified.”
Duplication Weakening Academic Standards
The minister warned that duplication of federal tertiary institutions had led to fragmented resources, under-utilised facilities, and a dilution of academic quality.
Recent data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reportedly showed that several institutions attracted fewer than 100 applicants during the last admission exercise.
“This trend,” Alausa explained, “is producing institutions that are poorly subscribed, ill-prepared to compete globally, and ultimately churning out graduates who may struggle in the job market.”
Reform of Private University Approvals
The moratorium will also be accompanied by a review of the guidelines for approving new private universities.
The aim, according to the minister, is to ensure that any newly licensed institution — public or private — meets strict standards in terms of staffing, infrastructure, and financial capacity before opening its doors to students.
Redirecting Resources to Existing Institutions
Alausa said the pause in creating new institutions would free up government funds and attention to:
Upgrade teaching and learning facilities.
Hire and retain highly qualified lecturers.
Expand the carrying capacity of existing universities, polytechnics, and colleges.
Improve research and innovation outputs.
“If we truly want to improve quality and avoid being a laughing stock globally,” the minister stated, “the pragmatic step is to pause the establishment of new federal institutions and consolidate what we already have.”
Global Reputation and Graduate Employability at Stake
Stakeholders have long warned that Nigeria’s quantity-over-quality approach to tertiary education has damaged its global academic reputation. Poorly resourced institutions, they say, contribute to the devaluation of Nigerian degrees internationally and worsen the unemployment crisis by producing graduates who lack the skills to compete in today’s job market.
With this policy, the government hopes to reverse that trend by focusing on deep reforms instead of constant expansion.
📌 Key Takeaway:
For the next seven years, no new federal tertiary institution will be approved. The focus will shift to improving the quality, capacity, and relevance of existing ones — a move the government believes is critical to lifting the standard of Nigerian higher education and making its graduates competitive worldwide.

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