Chukwu Obinna 
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) imposes a six-year moratorium on licensing new universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, in a move aimed at strengthening existing tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa announced the decision on Wednesday after the council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
Alausa says the measure addresses a widening gap between demand for university education and available spaces.
According to data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), more than 2.3 million candidates applied for university admission last year, while fewer than 228,000 places were available in public institutions.
“Today, access to tertiary education is not easy in Nigeria. We must strengthen existing institutions rather than continue expanding without sustainability,” Alausa says.
The council also approves a policy recognising medical fellowship qualifications as equivalent to doctoral degrees.
Alausa explains that many senior clinicians spend more years completing medical training than candidates pursuing traditional PhD programmes.
“These professionals spend many years in training through medical school, residency and fellowship. We need to harmonise the system,” he says.
An executive bill to amend the National Postgraduate Medical College Act will be sent to the National Assembly to formalise the policy.
In a separate decision, the council restored the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education as an independent agency.
Alausa links the move to Nigeria’s literacy challenge.
“Today, about 56 million Nigerians are illiterate. This must change,” he says.
FEC also approves comprehensive insurance coverage for all 180 Federal Unity Schools nationwide.
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Koko Maxwella 
Hussaini Ibrahim 
