FG Suspends Creation of New Federal Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges for 7 Years
In a bold move to reshape Nigeria’s education sector, the Federal Government has announced a seven-year suspension on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.
Why the Freeze?
According to the Minister, this decision is not to block access to higher education but to address underfunding, poor staffing, and low enrollment in existing institutions.
Currently, Nigeria has:
- 72 federal universities
- 42 federal polytechnics
- 28 federal colleges of education
Yet, many of these institutions are struggling. Statistics show that in 2024 alone, 199 universities had fewer than 100 applicants through JAMB, while 34 received none at all. Similarly, 64 colleges of education recorded zero applications.
Dr. Alausa revealed shocking examples, such as a northern university with 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students. He described this as a misallocation of resources that the government intends to fix.
Government’s Plan
The seven-year freeze will give the Ministry of Education time to:
- Fix dilapidated facilities
- Hire more qualified staff
- Expand the carrying capacity of existing institutions
The Minister emphasized that Nigerian graduates are still respected globally, but warned that producing half-baked graduates due to poor infrastructure would worsen youth unemployment.
Exceptions and New Approvals
While the ban affects federal institutions, nine private universities were recently approved. Dr. Alausa clarified that these approvals were old applications that had already undergone a long evaluation process.
Importantly, the freeze also applies to private polytechnics and colleges of education, in order to avoid a repeat of the low-enrollment problem.
What’s Next for Polytechnics?
A major reform under consideration is the review of the Polytechnic Act. If passed, polytechnics will be able to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees, bridging the gap between universities and polytechnics and making them more attractive to students.
The Bigger Picture
The Federal Government insists that the suspension is like a “reset button” for Nigeria’s higher education system. Instead of spreading resources thin, the focus will now be on quality over quantity.
In simple terms: It’s better to strengthen the house you already have than to keep building new ones.
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