The Federal Government has imposed a seven-year ban on the creation of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
The move, approved during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, is aimed at curbing the proliferation of underutilised institutions and tackling the challenge of overstretched resources.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who tabled the proposal, said the moratorium will help improve the quality of education by ensuring that existing institutions operate at optimal capacity before new ones are established.
He noted that many federal tertiary institutions are currently battling inadequate funding, infrastructure shortages, and falling academic standards, making further expansion unsustainable at present.
The meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, unanimously approved the policy as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s education sector.