By Zaccheus Babalola
The Federal Government has suspended the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education for the next seven years
This is due to the spread of underutilized institutions, resource wastage, and a decline in academic quality.
The decision followed and approval on Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following a presentation of a memo by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to that effect
FEC, however, approved nine new universities despite the tough decision on the creation of new federal tertiary institutions
After the meeting, Dr. Alausa told State House correspondents that the challenges in Nigeria’s tertiary education system are no longer about access but rather the duplication of institutions, lack of proper facilities, insufficient staff, and declining enrolment in many existing schools.
“Several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students. In one northern university, there are 1,200 staff serving 800 students. This is a waste of government resources,” he stated.
The minister said 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board last year, with 34 recording zero applications.
Of the 295 polytechnics nationwide, he said, many had fewer than 99 applicants, while 219 colleges of education also posted poor enrolment figures, including 64 with no applications at all.
Dr Tunji Alausa said the suspension would enable the government to improve facilities, recruit qualified staff, and expand the scope of the existing schools
According to the minister, Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education, in addition to hundreds of state-owned and private tertiary institutions, as well as specialised schools such as colleges of agriculture, health sciences, and nursing.
The minister confirmed that FEC, however, approved nine new universities at the meeting.
He clarified that the approved universities were private institutions that had applied in the last six years.
Edited by Binta Nuan
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