DAILY MENTOR NEWS
By Staff Writer | August 13, 2025
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by Bola Tinubu, has approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions across Nigeria. This ban covers all categories of federal tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The decision, announced on August 13, 2025, came during the FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. The moratorium aims to address the growing challenges facing Nigeria's tertiary education sector, including the proliferation of under-utilized institutions, inefficient resource allocation, deteriorating infrastructure, and a decline in academic quality.
Dr. Alausa explained that the current concerns are no longer about access to tertiary education but about the duplication of many institutions, which has overstretched resources and led to significant deterioration in educational standards. He cited examples such as federal universities with fewer than 800 students but more than 1,200 staff members, and hundreds of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education experiencing very low or zero applications through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the 2024/2025 academic session.
According to the minister, the ban will enable the government to channel funds towards upgrading facilities, recruiting and training qualified staff, and increasing the carrying capacities of existing institutions. The move aligns with President Tinubu’s vision to ensure that Nigerian graduates remain competitive and respected globally for their quality education.
The moratorium will last until at least 2032, providing a “reset button” for the education sector to focus on quality over quantity. While the moratorium applies to federal institutions, the government also approved the establishment of nine new private universities after thorough evaluations, aimed at clamping down on dormant and inefficient applications in the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The minister praised President Tinubu for his commitment to revamping Nigeria’s tertiary education system and ensuring the delivery of world-class education to Nigerian students.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has previously criticized the rapid and excessive establishment of universities, warning of declining educational standards and threatening industrial action if conditions do not improve.
This policy marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s higher education approach, emphasizing the strengthening and revitalization of existing institutions rather than pursuing unchecked expansion.
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