Federal Government Enforces Six-Year Moratorium on New Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government of Nigeria has implemented a six-year moratorium on the creation of new tertiary institutions throughout the country. This decision was made during a Federal Executive Council meeting led by President Bola Tinubu.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa, who addressed the media following the meeting, explained that the ban aims to bolster the quality and sustainability of existing institutions, especially in the private sector.

He noted that Nigeria currently has an abundance of universities, polytechnics, and colleges, many of which are encountering financial difficulties.

Referring to data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), he highlighted that over 2.3 million candidates sought admission last year, yet fewer than 228,000 were able to secure spots in public universities.

This discrepancy underscores access issues that persist despite the increasing number of educational institutions.

In another related initiative, the Federal Executive Council restored the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC) to its full functioning as an independent body.

Minister Alausa revealed that approximately 56 million Nigerians are still deemed illiterate. The NMEC has plans to launch comprehensive literacy initiatives, particularly in rural areas, utilizing radio, television, advocacy campaigns, and community learning centres.

Additionally, the council approved modifications to the National Postgraduate Medical College Act to recognize medical fellowships as equivalent to a PhD, facilitating academic progression.

Furthermore, insurance coverage was authorized for 180 federal unity schools scattered across the nation.

This announcement follows the National Universities Commission's recent approval of 33 new universities in 2025, which increased Nigeria's total number of universities to 309.