The Federal Government has announced a major policy shift, placing a seven-year ban on the creation of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The move comes as part of efforts to stop the deterioration of academic standards, which officials say is partly caused by the unchecked proliferation of tertiary institutions without adequate resources.
This decision was reached at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held Wednesday under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the government’s priority will now be on improving the capacity and performance of already existing institutions.
“We must ensure the universities we have are well-equipped and capable of producing graduates that meet global standards before we think of building more,” Alausa said.
Analysts believe the policy could pave the way for reforms in curriculum, teacher training, and infrastructure across the country’s federal tertiary education system.