The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to the moratorium on the establishment of new universities, addressing concerns raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the recent approval of nine private universities. The government maintains that this approval does not violate the imposed moratorium, as these applications were submitted and undergoing processing long before the moratorium was implemented. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, clarified that these approvals, comprising seven conventional and two open universities, represent the culmination of a rigorous, multi-year accreditation process involving substantial investments by the applicants. He emphasized that these were not new applications but rather pre-existing proposals that had already navigated several accreditation stages, including multiple site visits by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The moratorium, instituted around December 2024, initially targeted private tertiary institutions – universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education – for a period of one year. This temporary ban aimed to address concerns regarding quality control, resource allocation, and the overall sustainability of the higher education sector. The Minister attributed the delayed processing of these applications to inefficiencies within the NUC, acknowledging the extensive time and resources committed by the prospective university developers. He underscored the government’s responsibility to acknowledge these investments and finalize the approval process for applications that had already met the required standards.
The government’s decision to approve these nine private universities stems from a recognition of the significant financial investments already made by the developers, amounting to billions of naira. Abruptly canceling these applications after years of processing and substantial investment would not only be unfair to the applicants but could also discourage future investment in the education sector. The government views the approval of these universities as a necessary step to honor commitments made to these investors and acknowledge the progress they have made through the established accreditation procedures.
Furthermore, the Minister clarified the distinction between the moratorium on private universities and the separate moratorium on federal universities. While the moratorium on private universities remains in effect, the moratorium on establishing new federal universities commenced on the same day the Federal Executive Council (FEC) granted approval for the nine private institutions. This distinction underscores the government’s nuanced approach to regulating the higher education landscape, recognizing the different contexts and considerations relevant to public and private institutions.
The government’s decision reflects a balancing act between upholding the principles of the moratorium and recognizing the commitments made to investors who had initiated the application process well before the moratorium was enacted. By approving these applications, the government aims to avoid penalizing those who had diligently pursued the established procedures and invested heavily in anticipation of establishing these institutions. This approach aims to foster investor confidence while maintaining the overall objectives of the moratorium.
In essence, the government’s position is that these approvals are not a breach of the moratorium but rather a recognition of pre-existing commitments and a commitment to fair process. The moratorium remains in effect for new applications, serving its intended purpose of regulating the growth of the higher education sector while allowing for the completion of applications already in advanced stages of processing. This approach seeks to ensure quality control and sustainable growth within the higher education landscape while respecting the investments and efforts made by prospective university developers.
