The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a six-year moratorium on the establishment of new tertiary institutions across the country as part of efforts to strengthen existing ones and improve the quality of higher education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.
According to him, the decision will temporarily halt the establishment of new universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, particularly private institutions, to allow the government focus on improving sustainability and standards within the existing system.
Alausa explained that although the demand for higher education in Nigeria remains high, many institutions are currently facing serious sustainability challenges.
ALSO READ: Asylum surge: UK stops study visas for four countries
“Access to higher education is still difficult in the country. We have many tertiary institutions, both public and private, but we need to support private institutions to become financially sustainable,” he said.
The minister cited data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), noting that more than 2.3 million candidates applied for university admission last year, while public institutions had fewer than 228,000 available spaces.
He said the moratorium would allow the Federal Government to focus on strengthening existing institutions and improving the quality of education across the sector.
Alausa also reiterated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to raising educational standards in the country.
“I am committed to ensuring that every child and citizen of this country receives the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world,” he added.
The council also approved the restoration of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education as an independent commission.
According to the minister, the move is part of the government’s plan to tackle Nigeria’s high rate of illiteracy and expand access to basic and digital education.
He noted that about 56 million Nigerians are currently illiterate, stressing that the government aims to educate over 50 million young adults within the next two to three years.
In another decision, FEC approved amendments to the National Postgraduate Medical College Act to recognise medical fellowship qualifications as equivalent to doctoral degrees.
The proposed amendment, which will be forwarded to the National Assembly as an Executive Bill, seeks to address career barriers faced by highly specialised medical professionals who undergo lengthy medical training, residency and fellowship programmes but still require a PhD to qualify for professorial appointments in universities.
Alausa said the reform would harmonise academic recognition for medical professionals whose training often exceeds the duration required to obtain a doctoral degree.
Additionally, the council approved comprehensive insurance coverage for the country’s 180 Federal Unity Schools.