In a move to address educational quality and resource management, the Federal Government of Nigeria has imposed a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. The moratorium, approved during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, aims to curb the proliferation of what officials describe as under-utilized institutions with overstretched resources and declining academic standards.
The decision was ratified at the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented the proposal, which was subsequently approved.
The government’s action comes amid growing concerns about the quality of higher education in the country. Critics have long argued that the rapid creation of new institutions, often for political reasons, has led to a dilution of academic quality and a strain on existing resources.
This seven-year ban is expected to allow the government and educational stakeholders to focus on strengthening and improving the standards of existing tertiary institutions, rather than expanding their number.
Further details on the implementation of the moratorium are expected to be released by the Ministry of Education in the coming days.
