Education Ministry Urges Senate to Pause New Federal Tertiary Institutions for Seven Years
By CeeWhy News Desk, Lagos
The Federal Ministry of Education has asked the National Assembly to suspend consideration of bills seeking to establish additional federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for seven years, citing the cost of sustaining existing institutions and concerns over academic quality.
The request was contained in a memorandum dated November 2, 2026, addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to a November 6 report by Voice of Nigeria. The ministry said the appeal was consistent with a seven-year moratorium approved by the Federal Executive Council on August 13, 2025.
Why the ministry wants a pause
Education Minister Tunji Alausa argued that expanding the number of federal tertiary institutions without adequate funding could worsen existing shortages of teaching facilities, laboratories, accommodation and qualified personnel.
The ministry’s position is that improving the capacity and standards of institutions already established should take precedence over creating new ones. It also raised concerns about duplication of academic programmes and the under-use of existing facilities.
The memorandum acknowledged the National Assembly’s constitutional role in making laws. The request is therefore a policy appeal to lawmakers; it is not evidence that the Senate has already suspended all bills concerning new institutions.
Funding commitments cited
According to the ministry’s memorandum as reported by Voice of Nigeria, only ₦250 billion was released between 2013 and 2021 out of the ₦1.3 trillion identified under the 2013–2018 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities revitalisation arrangement.
The minister also cited a ₦150 billion needs-assessment intervention approved in 2025, saying ₦50 billion had initially been released. These figures are attributed to the ministry and should not be treated as an independently audited account of all subsequent releases.
The ministry said some state governments had sought federal takeovers of their universities because of the financial burden of running them, illustrating the long-term obligations associated with establishing new public institutions.
Access versus quality
The proposal raises a policy question for students and families: whether Nigeria should increase the number of institutions to widen access or invest more heavily in existing campuses so they can admit and train students effectively.
Additional institutions can improve geographic access, but they also require recurring expenditure on staffing, accreditation, equipment, infrastructure and student services. The ministry’s argument is that expansion without dependable funding risks spreading limited resources too thinly.
The government cited interventions such as TETFund projects, student loans through NELFUND and skills-development programmes as part of its broader higher-education agenda.
What happens next
The Senate and House of Representatives retain their legislative responsibilities. It remains to be seen how lawmakers will respond to the ministry’s request and whether any pending establishment bills will be deferred.
Students should note that the appeal concerns proposals for new federal institutions; it does not amount to a directive to close existing universities, polytechnics or colleges of education.
Source: Voice of Nigeria, November 6, 2026, citing the Education Ministry memorandum: https://von.gov.ng/ministry-seeks-7-year-halt-on-new-federal-institutions/.