The Federal Government has announced a six-year moratorium on the establishment of new private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education as part of a broad reform agenda aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education sector.
The decision was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during its recent meeting at the State House in Abuja, presided over by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who explained that the moratorium is designed to improve the quality, sustainability, and management of existing tertiary institutions, particularly privately owned universities.
Strengthening Existing Institutions
According to the minister, the government is concerned that while Nigeria continues to witness a rapid increase in private institutions, many of them struggle with financial sustainability, infrastructure development, and quality standards.
“Access is not easy in the country,” Alausa said. “We have many tertiary institutions, both public and private, but we must ensure that existing private institutions become financially sustainable before creating more.”
Data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shows that more than 2.3 million candidates applied for university admission last year, while public universities could accommodate fewer than 228,000 students. The government believes the moratorium will allow authorities to focus on strengthening the existing education system and improving learning standards nationwide.
Restoration of Adult Education Commission
In another major reform decision, the Council approved the restoration of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education as a fully independent commission after it had previously been downgraded to a department within the ministry.
The commission will play a critical role in tackling Nigeria’s literacy crisis. According to the minister, about 56 million Nigerians are still unable to read or write, making adult education and literacy programmes a national priority.
The restored commission is expected to expand community learning centres, radio and television education campaigns, and public advocacy programmes, particularly in rural communities.
The move aligns with the federal government’s plan to educate more than 50 million young adults and improve digital literacy within the next two to three years.
Recognition of Medical Fellowships as Doctoral Equivalents
The Council also approved amendments to the National Postgraduate Medical College Act to recognise medical fellowship qualifications as equivalent to PhD degrees.
According to Alausa, many Nigerian doctors undergo more than a decade of training, including medical school, residency, and fellowship programmes, yet still face barriers when seeking academic appointments that require a PhD.
The proposed amendment, developed in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, will allow fellows of the National Postgraduate Medical College to be recognised as having doctoral-level qualifications once the executive bill receives approval from the National Assembly.
Insurance Coverage for Federal Unity Schools
In addition, the Council approved comprehensive insurance coverage for the country’s 180 Federal Unity Schools. The policy will include fire and general insurance to protect school infrastructure and assets, ensuring better risk management and protection of public educational facilities.
Government’s Commitment to Education Reform
The education minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s education system and ensuring that citizens receive quality education comparable to global standards.
“I am committed to ensuring that every single child and citizen of this country receives the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world,” Alausa said.
The reforms are part of a broader strategy by the Federal Government to strengthen educational institutions, expand literacy programmes, and remove systemic barriers within professional and academic sectors.
