FG Seeks Seven-Year Halt On Establishment Of New Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government has appealed to the National Assembly to suspend the consideration and passage of bills seeking to establish new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for seven years.

The appeal was contained in a memorandum dated November 2, 2026, addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

Alausa urged lawmakers to support the seven-year moratorium approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on August 13, 2025, to address the proliferation of tertiary institutions, duplication of academic programmes and inadequate funding.

The minister said existing federal tertiary institutions were already facing significant challenges, including inadequate lecture halls, overcrowded classrooms, insufficient laboratories, shortage of qualified personnel, accommodation deficits and deteriorating infrastructure.

He warned that establishing more institutions without addressing these challenges could further weaken academic standards and the quality of education.

Alausa also highlighted the long-term financial obligations associated with establishing new institutions, including infrastructure, personnel, equipment, utilities and recurrent expenditure, which successive administrations would be required to sustain.

He noted that proposals for new institutions should be guided by national education priorities, demonstrable needs and credible funding arrangements, rather than the mere desire to increase the number of tertiary institutions.

The minister, however, clarified that the moratorium was not intended to permanently restrict access to tertiary education or prevent future expansion where compelling national needs existed.

Rather, he said the policy would allow the government to consolidate existing investments, improve infrastructure, strengthen academic standards and ensure sustainable funding for institutions already in operation.

Alausa consequently urged the National Assembly to exercise restraint in considering bills for additional federal tertiary institutions, stressing that the success of the education sector should be measured by the quality of institutions and graduates, rather than the number of institutions established.