By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has imposed a seven-year moratorium on establishing new federal Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education to address the tertiary education sector’s challenges.
This decision aims to optimize resource allocation, improve existing institutions’ quality, and stop the proliferation of under-enrolled schools.
Some Federal Universities have fewer than 2,000 students, with one northern University having 1,200 staff for fewer than 800 students. 199 Universities received fewer than 100 applications through JAMB last year, while 34 received none. Similarly, many Polytechnics and Colleges of Education had low enrollment figures.
Unchecked proliferation of institutions with low student numbers may undermine Nigerian degrees’ value abroad and worsen unemployment.
The moratorium will enable the government to focus on rehabilitating existing facilities, hiring competent staff, and expanding current institutions’ capacity. Minister Alausa emphasized that this move is crucial for making Nigerian institutions globally competitive.
Despite the moratorium, nine Private Universities were approved, having met the NUC’s evaluation criteria after pending applications for up to six years. Significant investments had been made in their infrastructure.
Minister Alausa said, “When we assumed office, there were 551 applications for Private Universities. Over 350 dormant ones were deactivated. Of the 79 active cases, nine met the criteria and were approved.”
The moratorium applies to both public and private institutions for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, signaling a comprehensive approach to reforming Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
