By Becky Momodu
The Federal Government has moved to halt the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for seven years, citing funding constraints, infrastructure deficits and declining standards in existing tertiary institutions.
The government urged the Senate to suspend consideration and passage of bills seeking to establish additional federal tertiary institutions during the period, warning that continued proliferation without sustainable funding could worsen the education sector’s financial crisis.
The appeal was contained in a November 2, 2026 memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and addressed to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with a copy to the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
In the memo, referenced FME/DUE/NASS/153/Vol.1/147 and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the government appealed to lawmakers to support the proposed moratorium and exercise restraint in sponsoring and considering bills for new federal institutions.
Alausa disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the seven-year moratorium at its meeting on August 13, 2025, following concerns over the growing number of public tertiary institutions, duplication of academic programmes and underutilisation of existing facilities.
He argued that Nigeria’s immediate education priority should be strengthening existing institutions rather than establishing more, noting that many federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were struggling with inadequate infrastructure and personnel.
According to the minister, existing institutions face overcrowded classrooms, insufficient lecture halls and laboratories, accommodation shortages, inadequate qualified personnel and deteriorating facilities.
He warned that creating additional institutions without addressing these challenges would further stretch available resources and undermine academic standards.
To demonstrate the funding difficulties, Alausa disclosed that out of the ₦1.3 trillion commitment under the 2013–2018 Federal Government-ASUU revitalisation agreement, only ₦250 billion was reportedly released between 2013 and 2021.
He also revealed that of the additional ₦150 billion approved in 2025 for Needs Assessment Intervention, only ₦50 billion was initially released.
The minister said the funding record raised serious questions about the government’s ability to sustain additional institutions while meeting existing financial obligations.
Alausa further cited Ekiti and Imo states as examples of governments that had undertaken institutional consolidation and integration to address financial and administrative challenges.
He noted that three state-owned universities in Ekiti were merged into one institution, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, in 2011.
He added that some state governments had also approached the Federal Government to take over their universities because of difficulties sustaining their operations.
The minister warned that establishing institutions without credible long-term funding arrangements could eventually force governments to undertake expensive mergers, restructuring or closures.
He also referenced institutional consolidation in countries including Australia, Finland, Japan, the United States and South Africa, where reforms had been adopted to reduce duplication, improve governance and strengthen research capacity.
According to him, the Federal Government must also prioritise existing interventions and funding commitments, including projects under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), vocational training programmes and allowances for academic and non-academic tools.
Alausa explained that establishing a new tertiary institution involved substantial financial commitments beyond the passage of an enabling law, including land acquisition, infrastructure, take-off grants, recruitment, equipment, utilities and recurrent expenditure.
He cautioned that without comprehensive feasibility studies, proven educational needs and sustainable funding plans, newly established institutions could exist only on paper without the resources required to operate effectively.
However, the minister clarified that the proposed moratorium was not designed to permanently stop the expansion of tertiary education or deny Nigerians access to higher education.
Rather, he said the seven-year period would enable the government to consolidate existing investments, address infrastructure gaps and improve academic quality before considering further expansion.
Alausa appealed to Akpabio and other National Assembly leaders to support the policy and refrain from considering bills seeking to establish additional federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education during the period.
He maintained that the success of the country’s education system should be measured by the quality of teaching, competence of graduates and contributions of institutions to national development, rather than the number of tertiary institutions established.
