FEC places seven-year ban on establishment of federal higher institutions

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has implemented a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal higher institutions in Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges. The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, announced this decision at a FEC meeting, stating that the goal is to address the proliferation of institutions and redirect resources towards improving existing ones.

Alausa highlighted that the issue is not access to tertiary education, as statistics show a surplus of institutions with declining student enrollment, leading to inefficiency and poor infrastructure. He noted that many federal universities are operating below capacity, with some serving fewer than 800 students.

The minister emphasized the need to optimize resources, as currently, there are 199 universities in Nigeria with fewer than 100 candidates applying for admission in some cases.