The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the decision as a pragmatic step aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education and preventing Nigeria from becoming “a laughing stock globally.”

He cited severe under-enrolment and resource imbalances in many existing institutions, noting that some federal universities operate far below capacity. In one northern university, for example, 1,200 staff serve fewer than 800 students, a situation he described as “a waste of government resources.”

Data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) showed that 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications last year, while 34 had no applicants at all. Similar patterns were recorded in several polytechnics and colleges of education.

Alausa explained that the moratorium will enable the government to channel resources toward revitalising existing institutions by upgrading infrastructure, hiring qualified staff, and expanding capacity.

According to him, the move is part of a broader plan to strengthen the country’s education system by ensuring that resources are efficiently allocated and existing institutions are brought up to global standards.