FG Urges Senate to Halt Creation of New Federal Universities, Polytechnics for Seven Years
The Federal Government has urged the Senate to support a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the move would allow the government to strengthen existing institutions, address funding gaps and improve the quality of tertiary education.
Alausa warned that establishing more institutions without adequate funding, infrastructure and academic resources could create universities and polytechnics that exist only on paper but lack the capacity to function effectively.
He cautioned that such institutions could eventually become financial burdens, forcing future administrations to consider expensive mergers, restructuring or outright closures.
According to him, the consequences could affect students, workers, public investments and the wider education system.
The minister, however, clarified that the proposed seven-year moratorium was not intended to permanently deny Nigerians access to tertiary education or prevent the establishment of new institutions where there were compelling national needs.
Instead, he said the period would give the government an opportunity to consolidate existing investments, address institutional weaknesses, improve academic standards and ensure that future expansion was properly planned and financially sustainable.
Alausa therefore appealed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of the National Assembly to support the policy by exercising restraint in considering and passing bills seeking to establish additional federal tertiary institutions during the period.
“In view of the foregoing, I respectfully appeal to Your Excellency and the distinguished leadership of the National Assembly to support the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium by exercising restraint in the consideration and passage of Bills for the establishment of additional Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education during the period,” the memo stated.
The minister maintained that the strength of Nigeria’s tertiary education system should not be judged by the number of institutions established but by their ability to provide quality education and produce competent graduates.
“The success of our education system should be measured not merely by the number of institutions established, but by the capacity of existing institutions to deliver high-quality education, produce competent graduates and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
The memo was also copied to the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
