No More New Universities For Now As Senate Enforces FG’s Six-Year Moratorium

The Nigerian Senate has directed its relevant committees to suspend the consideration of bills seeking the establishment of new universities and other tertiary institutions across the country, in line with the Federal Government’s six-year moratorium on creating additional higher institutions.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the directive during plenary on Wednesday, explaining that the policy would give existing universities and other tertiary institutions sufficient time to strengthen their infrastructure, improve academic standards and consolidate their operations.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the directive applies particularly to the Senate Committees on Tertiary Institutions and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Bamidele also instructed the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, to formally notify lawmakers about the Federal Government’s policy to ensure that bills contradicting the decision are not presented for consideration.

He further advised committees responsible for education-related matters to stop forwarding proposals seeking the establishment of new tertiary institutions for consideration during plenary sessions.

The Senate Leader explained that the moratorium was necessary to allow existing institutions to improve their facilities and academic performance before the government considers establishing additional ones.

He noted that the Federal Government had already made efforts to distribute universities across different parts of the country, stressing the need to consolidate existing investments rather than continue creating new institutions.

The directive is expected to shift attention towards strengthening existing universities and other tertiary institutions during the six-year moratorium.