The Federal Government has asked the National Assembly to suspend the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for seven years, warning that the proliferation of tertiary institutions could worsen funding challenges and undermine academic standards.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made the appeal in a November 2, 2026, memo addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and copied to Senate Majority Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
The memo, marked FME/DUE/NASS/153/Vol.1/147 and sighted in Abuja on Friday, urged lawmakers to stop considering and passing bills for additional federal tertiary institutions during the proposed moratorium.
Alausa disclosed that the Federal Executive Council approved the seven-year suspension at its August 13, 2025, meeting as part of efforts to address the proliferation of public tertiary institutions, duplication of academic programmes and underutilisation of existing facilities.
He argued that Nigeria’s priority should be strengthening existing institutions rather than expanding their numbers amid severe funding constraints, deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate manpower and overcrowded classrooms.
“The Federal Government’s position is that the immediate challenge confronting the tertiary education sector is not merely the expansion of access but the urgent need to strengthen existing institutions,” he stated.
According to the minister, the moratorium would enable the government to consolidate previous investments, address infrastructure and manpower deficiencies, and improve the capacity of operational institutions before considering further expansion.
He expressed concern that bills seeking to establish additional federal tertiary institutions continued to receive legislative attention despite the government’s policy direction.
While acknowledging the constitutional powers of the National Assembly to establish institutions through legislation, Alausa urged lawmakers to consider demonstrable national needs and the long-term financial implications of such decisions.
He identified inadequate lecture halls, overcrowded classrooms, poorly equipped laboratories, shortages of qualified academic personnel, accommodation deficits and deteriorating infrastructure as major challenges confronting existing federal institutions.
The minister warned that establishing more institutions without guaranteed funding would further stretch limited resources and potentially compromise academic standards.
### FG’s outstanding funding commitments
Alausa presented figures highlighting the government’s outstanding financial obligations to the university system, particularly under the revitalisation agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
He disclosed that of the N1.3 trillion pledged under the 2013–2018 Federal Government-ASUU revitalisation agreement, only N250 billion was reportedly released between 2013 and 2021.
Similarly, he said that out of the additional N150 billion approved in 2025 for Needs Assessment Intervention, only N50 billion was initially 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.
He maintained that the outstanding commitments raised serious questions about the government’s ability to assume further financial responsibilities through the establishment of new institutions.
### Cites Ekiti, Imo consolidation
To support the proposed moratorium, Alausa cited the experiences of Ekiti and Imo states, where the establishment of multiple tertiary institutions reportedly created financial and administrative difficulties.
He recalled that three state-owned universities in Ekiti were consolidated into one institution, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, in 2011.
He also noted that Imo State had undertaken institutional reviews and integration following the establishment of several tertiary institutions under previous administrations.
The minister further disclosed that some state governments had approached the Federal Government seeking takeovers of their universities because of difficulties sustaining their operations.
He warned that institutions established without credible funding arrangements could become liabilities, forcing subsequent administrations to undertake expensive mergers, restructuring or closures.
“The institutions established without sustainable funding arrangements may subsequently require costly restructuring, merger or integration by successor administrations,” he cautioned.
### FG cites foreign countries’ experience
Alausa also referenced Australia, Finland, Japan, the United States and South Africa, saying the countries had adopted institutional mergers and consolidation to address funding constraints, programme duplication and administrative inefficiencies.
According to him, the reforms had helped improve institutional governance, achieve economies of scale, strengthen research capacity and ensure more efficient deployment of public resources.
He argued that Nigeria should adopt a similar approach by prioritising institutional viability, academic standards and efficient resource utilisation over the continuous establishment of new tertiary institutions.
The minister warned that additional institutions could also undermine other ongoing government interventions in the education sector, which require substantial and sustained funding.
These include infrastructure projects by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, vocational and skills acquisition initiatives, as well as the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for academic and non-academic personnel.
### Warns against institutions existing only on paper
Alausa stressed that establishing a tertiary institution involved more than passing an enabling law, noting that such decisions imposed long-term financial obligations on successive administrations.
He listed land acquisition, take-off grants, infrastructure construction, recruitment of academic and non-academic personnel, equipment procurement, utilities and recurrent expenditure among the costs associated with establishing and sustaining institutions.
The minister warned that establishment bills passed without comprehensive feasibility studies, evidence of national educational needs and credible long-term funding arrangements could result in institutions lacking the capacity to function effectively.
“Such institutions may eventually become financial liabilities, compelling future administrations to undertake costly mergers, restructuring or outright closure, with attendant consequences for students, staff, public investments and the national education system,” he stated.
He said the government intended to use the proposed seven-year period to strengthen existing institutions, improve infrastructure, address manpower shortages, raise academic standards and ensure that future expansion was backed by adequate financial and administrative planning.
Alausa therefore appealed to Akpabio and the leadership of the National Assembly to align legislative activities with the Federal Government’s policy.
“In view of the foregoing, I respectfully appeal to Your Excellency and the distinguished leadership of the National Assembly to support the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium by exercising restraint in the consideration and passage of Bills for the establishment of additional Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education during the period,” he stated.
The minister maintained that Nigeria’s educational progress should be measured by the quality of institutions and their contributions to national development rather than the number established.
“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.
