The Federal Government has placed a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The decision, aimed at addressing the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, overstretched resources and declining academic quality, was reached during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who made the disclosure after the meeting, explained that the move was necessary to stabilise and strengthen existing institutions before new ones are considered.
According to him, “We cannot continue to spread resources thinly across newly created institutions while the older ones lack the necessary infrastructure, manpower and funding to function effectively. This moratorium will give us room to focus on quality.”
The minister added that the government will in the coming months channel more resources to improve teaching facilities, expand research capacity, and address staffing challenges in existing tertiary institutions.
The moratorium takes immediate effect and will last until 2032.
