The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a seven-year moratorium on the creation of new federal tertiary institutions, in a move aimed at curbing duplication and improving the quality of existing universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, told journalists after Wednesday’s FEC meeting that access to tertiary education was no longer a major challenge. He noted that several federal universities were operating far below capacity, with some recording fewer than 2,000 students. In one northern institution, he said, 1,200 staff served fewer than 800 students — a waste of public resources.

The minister said many institutions admitted fewer than 100 students in the last Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exercise, underscoring the need for consolidation rather than expansion.

He warned that the unchecked proliferation of poorly subscribed institutions could lead to ill-prepared graduates, diminish the global value of Nigerian degrees, and worsen unemployment.

The moratorium, he explained, would allow government resources to be channelled into upgrading facilities, employing qualified staff, and expanding the capacity of existing institutions.

“We must prioritise quality over quantity if we want to be taken seriously internationally,” he said. The ministry will also review guidelines for approving new private universities to ensure efficiency.