The Federal Government has placed a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced the decision on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Alausa said the move is aimed at curbing the “unchecked proliferation” of under-utilised institutions and redirecting resources to strengthen existing ones.
According to him, Nigeria’s challenge is no longer access to tertiary education, but the duplication of institutions that overstretch limited resources.
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“Some institutions are running far below capacity. In one northern university, 1,200 staff cater to fewer than 800 students,” the minister noted.
“In the last JAMB cycle, 199 universities received fewer than 100 applicants, while 34 recorded zero applications. Sixty-four colleges of education attracted no applicants at all.”
Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education. Alausa warned that without intervention, the trend could lead to declining standards, poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and worsening graduate unemployment.
“The moratorium will enable government to focus on upgrading facilities, recruiting qualified staff, and increasing capacity in existing institutions,” he said.
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“We must sustain the quality of our graduates and the respect they enjoy internationally.”
While the freeze applies only to federal institutions, FEC also approved nine new private universities whose applications met stringent evaluation standards. However, moratoriums remain in place for new private polytechnics and colleges of education.
As part of wider reforms, the government is reviewing the Polytechnic Act to allow polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology degrees — a move aimed at bridging the gap between university and polytechnic education.
Alausa said President Tinubu has fully endorsed the reforms, describing them as essential to delivering “world-class education” to Nigerians.
