The Federal Government has approved a six-year moratorium on the establishment of new tertiary institutions across the country.
 
Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this yesterday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
 
According to the minister, the decision is aimed at improving the quality and sustainability of tertiary education in Nigeria.
 
Alausa explained that while a moratorium had earlier been placed on the establishment of private universities last year, the new directive extends to all tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education (CoEs).
 
The country, he said, has largely addressed the issue of access to tertiary education and must now focus on improving standards and ensuring the financial sustainability of existing institutions.
 
“Access is no longer the major issue in the country. We have a large number of tertiary institutions, both public and private. What we need now is to improve quality and ensure that existing private institutions remain financially sustainable,” he said.
 
The minister cited statistics from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), noting that while about 2.3 million candidates applied for tertiary admission last year, nearly 228 universities recorded fewer than 50 applicants.
 
He added that with the resolution of the prolonged industrial disputes involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), more students are expected to enrol in public universities, which could further reduce enrolment pressure on private institutions.
 
“Proprietors of private universities have invested significant resources. We must create an environment where their investments can remain viable while we also improve the quality of education across both public and private institutions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister also announced that the FEC approved the restoration of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education as a full commission after it was earlier downgraded to a unit under the Federal Ministry of Education.
 
He explained that the decision aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda to educate more than 50 million Nigerians and expand digital literacy within the next two to three years.