The Federal Government has announced a seven-year moratorium on the creation of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, citing under-utilisation, poor enrolment, and declining academic standards across existing institutions.
The decision, approved during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, followed a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
According to Alausa, Nigeria’s tertiary education challenge has shifted from access to duplication, poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and wasting government resources. He revealed that some federal universities have fewer than 2,000 students, with one northern institution employing 1,200 staff for fewer than 800 students.
“If we want to improve quality and not be a laughing stock globally, the pragmatic step is to pause the establishment of new federal institutions,” Alausa stated.
Data from the ministry showed that 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications via JAMB last year, with 34 recording zero applications. Out of 295 polytechnics, many had fewer than 99 applicants, while 219 colleges of education recorded poor or zero enrolment.
The minister warned that unchecked proliferation of poorly subscribed institutions risks producing ill-prepared graduates, undermining the global value of Nigerian degrees, and worsening unemployment.
The moratorium also extends to new private polytechnics and colleges of education. However, FEC approved nine new private universities, whose applications had been pending for up to six years and met strict National Universities Commission (NUC) criteria.
Alausa commended President Tinubu for backing the reforms, describing the policy as a “reset button” for Nigeria’s higher education system.
Current figures:
72 Federal Universities
42 Federal Polytechnics
28 Federal Colleges of Education
The government says the pause will allow investment in existing institutions, upgrading facilities, hiring qualified staff, and raising the carrying capacity for students nationwide.
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