President Bola Tinubu has approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The decision, which covers universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, was taken during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by the president.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the move was necessary to halt the proliferation of federal tertiary institutions and address the strain it has placed on the nation’s education system.
“In our country, access to quality education is no longer an issue,” Alausa stated. “What we are witnessing today is duplication of new federal tertiary institutions, a significant reduction in the current capacity of each institution, and degradation of both physical infrastructure and manpower. If we do not act decisively, it will lead to marked declines in educational quality and undermine the international respect that Nigerian graduates command.”
The minister explained that instead of creating new schools, the federal government would channel its efforts and resources into strengthening existing ones. This, he said, would involve upgrading physical infrastructure, boosting manpower, and expanding the capacity of current universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to meet rising demand.
The moratorium, which will remain in effect until 2032, marks a major policy shift aimed at reversing years of rapid expansion in the sector and restoring standards in federal tertiary education.
