FG proposes seven-year halt on creation of new federal universities, polytechnics

The Federal Government is seeking a seven-year ban on establishing new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, Vanguard reported.

In a November 2 memo to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa urged lawmakers to stop passing bills to establish new institutions during the moratorium. The Federal Executive Council approved the moratorium in August 2025.

Alausa cited overcrowded classrooms, poorly equipped laboratories, staff shortages and decaying infrastructure in existing institutions.

He noted that only N250 billion of the N1.3 trillion pledged under the 2013–2018 FG-ASUU revitalisation agreement was reportedly released.

“These funding gaps demonstrate the difficulty of meeting existing obligations and raise legitimate concerns about the capacity to sustain additional institutions without corresponding and guaranteed budgetary provisions,” he stated.

“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 added.2