By Obike Ukoh
The recent seven-year embargo on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions was welcomed by the majority of stakeholders, who described it as a positive development.
They noted that the ban would check the proliferation of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, boost funding of existing ones and expansion of capacity building.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, in his brief on the moratorium, said the move was aimed at curbing the proliferation of under-utilised institutions and refocusing resources on improving existing ones.
Alausa noted that Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 108 state universities, and 159 private universities, with similar trends in polytechnics and colleges of education.
He pointed to a growing mismatch between the number of institutions and available student enrollment.
He said several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students, adding that in one institution, there are 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students.
“This is a waste of government resources. Today, we have universities where fewer than 100 candidates applied through JAMB for admission. In fact, 34 universities recorded zero applications,” he said.
He went further to explain that the prevailing situation is not limited to universities, as out of 295 polytechnics nationwide, some of them had fewer than 99 applicants last year, while 219 colleges of education recorded poor enrolment, with 64 colleges of education having no applicants at all.
A don, Prof. Okechukwu Nwaubani, of the Department of Social Science Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), said the ban would enable the government to equip existing federal institutions.
“This seven-year embargo will enable the government to fund and equip the already existing institutions. It is commendable if the government can implement it.
“Our problem most of the time is not good policies, but implementing these policies.
“ It will be wonderful if the government uses these seven years to adequately equip federal tertiary institutions to enable them to meet international standards.’’
Nwaubani, who is also the Director of Curriculum Development and Instructional Materials Centre, stressed that adequately equipping public institutions would enable the country to produce world-class graduates.
Also speaking, Dr Chinedu Ejezie of the Department of Political Science, UNN, described the move as a welcome development, adding that there is no sense in establishing new universities when existing ones are not adequately funded.
“ The decision is a welcome development and a step in the right direction, provided the government will have the will to implement it.’’
Ejezie, who is the Welfare Officer of ASUU, UNN Branch, suggested extension if at the end of seven years, public tertiary institutions are still under-funded.
Dr George Akubue, lecturer, Institute of African Studies, UNN, said if well implemented, the federal tertiary institutions would be upgraded to meet global standards.
“ Is it not the number of universities, polytechnics or colleges of education that matter, but how many of them meet international standards?’’
Ejezie noted that the country’s education ranking in the world would improve if the government could use the seven-year window to adequately fund and equip public tertiary institutions.
On his part, Prof. Oguguo of Alex Ekwueme, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), said that it had been the long-standing position of stakeholders.
“ In recent years, the establishment of a university has almost become a form of constituency projects, driven by political expediency rather than genuine commitment to education.’’
Egwu, current Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi Chapter, however, expressed concern that while the government embargoed the establishment of more public schools, approval was given to the establishment of private universities.
He said that with less than 10 per cent enrolment, most Nigerians cannot afford their fees.
“What Nigeria urgently needs is not more private universities for the elite, but proper funding of public schools: primary, secondary and tertiary institutions,’’ Egwu stressed.
Also, an educationist, Dr. Babayo Sule of the University of Lesotho, who commented on the issue, described it as “a welcome development,” but warned that without sincerity and adequate funding, the move may not yield meaningful reform.
According to Sule, if you are keenly following the struggles of ASUU), they have long agitated against the proliferation of universities and institutions that are not adequately funded.
Sule criticised the politicization of tertiary education, saying, “Education is too sensitive to be left at the discretion of politicians. Any lawmaker seeking re-election just sponsors a bill to establish a university, be it of agriculture, health sciences, fisheries, or forestry. It’s turned into a constituency project.”
He lamented the strain on the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), noting that while the number of institutions have tripled, the fund’s allocation has not. “TETFund is being overstretched. It was created through ASUU’s struggles to support infrastructure and training. Now, it’s being deflated by political expansion.”
The Vice-Chancellor of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Adesola Ajayi, said the proliferation of universities in recent years has stretched Nigeria’s already limited educational infrastructure.
Ajayi noted that, while Nigeria has a variety of universities, including federal, state, and specialised institutions, many of them operate far below capacity, due to inadequate infrastructure and facilities.
“Most of our first, second and third generation universities can increase their intake by up to 25 per cent or even 50 per cent of their current enrollment, but they don’t have the infrastructure and facilities to do so.
“They don’t have the laboratories, the workshops, the classrooms that will accommodate the students.
“We already have the different categories of higher institutions. Expansion of access by infrastructural upgrade is better than expansion of access by establishing new ones.
“The fund for the establishment of new schools should be deployed to address these infrastructural deficits in the existing institutions,” he said.
The vice chancellor said there are higher institutions that have fewer than 1,000 students, even 10 years after they were established.
According to the VC, many newly established universities, particularly those located in remote areas, lack basic infrastructure and struggle to attract workers
He added that some tertiary institutions were inaccessible to the students and staff members.
“It is unfortunate that our politicians are seeing these higher institutions as dividends of democracy that must come to their corners.
“Most of these institutions they attracted to their communities are not accessible. They are in remote areas and do not have the facilities and infrastructure to attract students and workers.
Also, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Noah Yusuf, expressed strong support for the federal government’s decision.
Yusuf said the policy could help curb the politically motivated proliferation of federal higher institutions across the country.
According to him, many of the federal universities and colleges established in recent years were sited mainly to satisfy political interests, often sparking conflicts between politicians and communities over their locations
With this moratorium, politicians will have to put a stop to these unnecessary actions, he noted.
“It is a good move that will allow the government to concentrate on existing federal institutions,” he said.
Yusuf said the moratorium could yield positive results in terms of improved regulation, better funding, and enhanced stability in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
However, a group, the Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria (GDNN) has urged the Federal Government to reverse the decision, as it will deny serious investors the opportunity to contribute their quota to the sector.
The group urged the government to re-evaluate the decision so as not to “make perfect cases victims of the failure of others.”
All in all, stakeholders are satisfied with the embargo on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions. They, however, stressed the need to avoid any policy U-turn.
