President Bola Tinubu gas announced a seven-year freeze on the creation of new federal higher education institutions.
He gave the directive at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Village in Abuja.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, informed reporters after the meeting that the moratorium applies to all types of federal tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Currently, there are 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education.
Alausa noted that in the upcoming 2024/2025 academic year, 199 universities had fewer than 100 applicants through JAMB, with 34 universities receiving no applicants at all.
He also mentioned that 295 polytechnics, both public and private, had fewer than 100 applicants, while 64 colleges of education reported no applicants.
Alausa highlighted one federal university that has fewer than 800 students but employs 1,200 staff, illustrating inefficiency and waste within the system.
Read also:
- Federal Govt delivers 46 roads to tertiary institutions, says minister
- Federal Polytechnic Ekowe: SSANIP backs probe panel, demands Rector’s suspension
- JAMB Warns Tertiary Institutions: No Matriculation list, No 2024/2025 admissions
The minister explained that the moratorium would enable the Tinubu administration to focus on improving deteriorating infrastructure, recruiting and training qualified lecturers, and enhancing the capacity of existing institutions instead of pursuing prestige through the establishment of new facilities.
He pointed out that some federal universities in certain northern states have fewer than 2,000 students, despite significant annual expenditures on their maintenance.
With the new initiative, the minister said the Tinubu administration aims to ensure that Nigerian graduates remain competitive and respected on a global scale, aligning with Tinubu’s goal of providing education that meets the highest international standards.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has repeatedly criticized the rapid establishment of universities in the country, labeling it as ‘reckless and excessive.’
The union has also warned of a potential nationwide strike due to deteriorating conditions in public universities and the government’s alleged failure to honor agreements.
In a recent statement from its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union expressed that the government has “pushed it to the wall,” highlighting the dire circumstances faced by lecturers nationwide.
“Feedback from campuses suggests that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to say the least, unhappy. They teach students on empty stomachs,” the statement noted.
“They conduct research in libraries and laboratories lacking essential equipment.”
