Federal Government mandates evidence for university staff requests

The Federal Government has mandated vice-chancellors of federal universities to provide evidence of staff shortages, labor-market demand, and relevance to national human capital development priorities before seeking approval for additional personnel. This directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in a letter dated October 19, 2026.

Alausa expressed concerns regarding the rising requests for manpower and their financial implications for the government. He noted that the current process for requesting additional personnel did not adequately consider cost implications, which are entirely borne by the Federal Government.

Under the new directive, universities must prioritize vacancies due to staff attrition, such as retirement and resignation. Requests for additional recruitment linked to new courses or institutional expansion will face stricter scrutiny.

Institutions must demonstrate labor-market demand and ensure proposed courses do not duplicate existing programs. The measures aim to promote efficient spending and strengthen strategic manpower planning in the tertiary education sector.