FG Slams 7-Year Ban on Creation of New Federal Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education
Enet
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The decision, authorities say, aims to address the overstretching of resources, the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, and a decline in academic quality across existing schools.
Speaking on the policy, government officials stressed that Nigeria already has more tertiary institutions than it can adequately fund and maintain. Many existing universities and polytechnics are battling infrastructural decay, inadequate staffing, and insufficient learning resources.
The new policy will allow the Ministry of Education to focus on improving infrastructure, enhancing research capacity, and upgrading academic standards in existing institutions.
Education experts say the move could help channel funds into revitalising the current system, but caution that access to higher education may be further limited if capacity issues are not addressed.
Some critics also argue that the ban should be accompanied by clear timelines for upgrading existing schools to prevent overcrowding and poor learning conditions.
The moratorium will remain in place until 2032, at which point the Federal Government will review the situation and decide whether to lift the ban or extend it.
In the meantime, stakeholders in the education sector are being urged to collaborate on innovative solutions to improve access and quality without creating more institutions.
