The Federal Government has announced a seven-year ban on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The decision, aimed at halting the proliferation of poorly utilised institutions and addressing overstretched resources, was reached during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who presented the proposal, said the moratorium was necessary to improve the quality of learning and ensure existing institutions operate at optimal capacity.

According to him, many federal tertiary institutions are struggling with inadequate funding, infrastructure deficits, and declining academic standards, making expansion unsustainable at this time.

President Bola Tinubu presided over the meeting where the policy was approved.