The Federal Government has imposed a seven-year moratorium on establishing new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to tackle inefficiencies caused by the proliferation of under-utilised institutions.
Education Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa said the decision, approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, will allow resources to be focused on improving existing schools through upgraded facilities, better staffing, and increased capacity.
Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education. Many are severely under-enrolled, with some recording fewer than 100 applicants through JAMB last year — and 34 universities attracting zero applications.
While the freeze applies to federal institutions, nine new private universities have been approved after passing rigorous evaluation. A moratorium on new private polytechnics and colleges of education also remains in place.
The reforms include plans to amend the Polytechnic Act to allow polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology degrees, reducing the preference gap between university and polytechnic education.
Alausa stressed that the move prioritises quality over quantity, warning that unchecked expansion risks producing poorly trained graduates and worsening unemployment.
