The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The decision, which aims to strengthen the quality and sustainability of the nation’s tertiary education sector, was formally approved at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
The presentation that informed the decision was delivered by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Dr. Alausa explained that the current challenges facing Nigeria’s higher education system are no longer centered on access to institutions, but rather on inefficiencies in the management and distribution of educational resources.
“Our problem is no longer how to admit students, but how to make existing institutions operate efficiently,” he said.
“We have duplication of courses, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient staffing, and declining enrolment in many institutions, which undermines the quality of education we provide.”
Citing concrete examples, the minister highlighted that several federal universities are operating far below capacity. “Some institutions have fewer than 2,000 students, while others have an extreme mismatch of staff to student ratio. In one northern university, 1,200 staff are serving fewer than 800 students.
“This is a significant waste of public funds and resources,” he stated. He further pointed out that last year, 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications each through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), with 34 universities recording no applications at all.
Polytechnics and colleges of education face similar challenges. Of the 295 polytechnics nationwide, many had fewer than 99 applicants, while 219 colleges of education reported poor enrolment figures, including 64 institutions that received zero applications.
The minister warned that if such trends continue unchecked, they could lead to a proliferation of poorly staffed and under-subscribed institutions, producing graduates who are inadequately prepared for the workforce. Such a situation, he said, risks devaluing Nigerian degrees internationally and worsening unemployment rates.
The moratorium, according to Dr. Alausa, will allow the government to focus on upgrading the facilities of existing institutions, improving infrastructure, recruiting highly qualified staff, and expanding the carrying capacity of current universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“If we want to improve quality and ensure that Nigeria is respected in the global education space, it is crucial to pause the establishment of new federal institutions for a while,” he added.
Currently, Nigeria has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education, alongside hundreds of state-owned and private tertiary institutions, and specialized schools in agriculture, health sciences, nursing, and other professional fields.
Despite the moratorium, the FEC approved nine new universities during the meeting. Dr. Alausa clarified that these are private universities whose applications had been pending for up to six years and had undergone full evaluation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“When we assumed office, there were 551 applications for private universities, many of which had stalled due to inefficiencies at the NUC. We deactivated over 350 dormant applications and introduced stricter guidelines. Of the remaining 79 active cases, nine met all required criteria and were approved,” he explained.
He further noted that billions of naira had already been invested in the infrastructure of the approved institutions, ensuring they are fully prepared to deliver high-quality education.
Dr. Alausa also emphasized that the moratorium will extend to new private polytechnics and colleges of education, aiming to prevent further under-enrolment and inefficient use of resources. He praised President Tinubu for supporting the initiative, describing the move as a “reset button” for Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
“Mr. President believes passionately in education as a critical driver of national development,” Dr. Alausa said. “He has mandated us to ensure that every Nigerian has access to high-quality education that meets international standards, thereby equipping our youth with the knowledge and skills required to compete globally.”
The seven-year moratorium represents a strategic intervention aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s tertiary education system, enhancing institutional efficiency, and improving the overall quality of graduates entering the workforce. Observers have noted that the policy underscores the government’s commitment to educational reform, fiscal prudence, and long-term national development.