Daniel Otera
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sharply criticised the Federal Government’s decision to approve nine new private universities despite announcing a seven-year moratorium on establishing new federal tertiary institutions. The union argues that this move undermines efforts to improve the quality of Nigeria’s higher education system, risks further devaluing degrees, and perpetuates a culture of political patronage.
On August 13, 2025, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, approved a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The decision aimed to address the “indiscriminate proliferation” of underutilised institutions, overstretched resources, and declining academic standards, as stated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
“Several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students. In one northern university, there are 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students. This is a waste of government resources,” Alausa said during a briefing after the FEC meeting.
However, the same FEC meeting approved nine new private universities, including Tazkiyah University in Kaduna State, Leadership University in Abuja, and Jimoh Babalola University in Kwara State, among others. This decision has sparked outrage from ASUU, which described the move as contradictory and detrimental to the education sector.
In a statement signed by its President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, on Thursday, ASUU questioned the rationale behind approving new private universities while acknowledging that access to tertiary education is no longer a challenge.
“If we agree that access is no longer an issue, why is the NUC giving more licences to private universities?” Piwuna asked
ASUU’s statement highlighted the “scandalous proliferation” of universities, accusing both past and present administrations of using university licences as tools for political patronage.
“Past and present administrations must cover their faces in shame for this scandalous proliferation of universities,” the statement read, noting that Nigeria currently has 339 universities 72 federal, 108 state, and 159 private averaging nine universities per state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), excluding polytechnics and colleges of education.
Nigeria’s tertiary education system has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, driven by rising demand for higher education and political pressures to establish institutions across regions. The Nigerian higher education sector has experienced significant growth in recent years. According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), as of October 2017, the number of private universities in Nigeria had already surpassed federal universities, with 69 private universities compared to 40 federal institutions. State universities stood at 44 during this period. This marked a significant shift in the landscape of Nigerian higher education, highlighting the growing role of private institutions in the educational system.
By August 2025, the total number of universities in Nigeria had risen to 339, encompassing federal, state, and private universities. Private universities now account for 47% of this total, underscoring the continuing trend of expansion in the private sector. While this rapid growth demonstrates the increasing demand for higher education, it has also raised several concerns about the quality of education, equitable distribution of resources, and the sustainability of these institutions.
The surge in private universities has prompted discussions about the balance between quantity and quality in Nigerian higher education. Many argue that while the proliferation of institutions may increase access to education, it also necessitates careful attention to maintaining academic standards, ensuring proper funding, and preventing overcrowding of resources. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of private universities has the potential to impact the performance and sustainability of existing institutions, particularly in light of Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Recent data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has highlighted a significant issue of underutilisation in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education for the 2024/2025 academic session. A total of 199 universities recorded fewer than 100 applications, with 34 institutions receiving no applications at all. Similarly, the polytechnic sector saw 295 polytechnics receiving fewer than 99 applicants, with 64 polytechnics failing to attract any applicants. Additionally, the colleges of education experienced similar underutilisation, with 219 colleges receiving fewer than 100 applications, and 64 of these colleges receiving no applications.
This underutilisation reflects a broader issue within the Nigerian higher education system, including the potential misalignment of programs offered by these institutions with the needs and interests of prospective students. Furthermore, this challenge raises concerns about the adequacy of resources, infrastructure, and the overall appeal of these institutions to candidates.
The data underscores the importance of addressing these disparities and improving the matching of academic offerings with the needs of students. It also highlights the necessity for government and institutional authorities to implement strategic interventions aimed at enhancing enrollment and ensuring the efficient use of available resources.
Alausa highlighted a particularly stark example: a northern university with fewer than 800 students but employing over 1,200 staff, resulting in an unsustainable staff-to-student ratio. This mismatch, according to the minister, wastes scarce government resources and dilutes academic quality.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) of Nigeria has raised significant concerns about the staff-to-student ratio within the country’s higher education system. With a workforce of approximately 100,000 academic staff across Nigeria’s 339 universities, the staff-to-student ratio stands at a staggering 1:21. This ratio is far higher than the global benchmark of 1:10, highlighting the critical shortage of teaching staff in Nigerian institutions. This shortfall is compounded by the challenges of inadequate infrastructure and limited funding, which have further hindered the ability of universities to deliver high-quality education.
As a result, Nigerian universities have seen a decline in their global competitiveness. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 underscores this issue, with only two Nigerian universities University of Ibadan and Covenant University ranking within the top 800 globally. This stark contrast to the global academic landscape places Nigerian universities at a disadvantage, as most of the country’s institutions fall outside the top 1,000 universities worldwide. These factors collectively contribute to the growing concern about the sustainability and future growth of Nigeria’s higher education sector.
ASUU’s accusation of political patronage resonates with long-standing critiques of Nigeria’s tertiary education policies. The union argues that universities have become “status symbols” for influential individuals and organisations, often established without regard for academic standards or sustainability. A 2015 study on corruption in Nigerian higher education noted that the lax regulatory environment has allowed politically connected individuals and religious organisations to secure university licences, often bypassing rigorous quality checks. The Tribune Online echoed this sentiment, stating, “People and organisations received licences to establish institutions not because they genuinely deserved to but because they had access to the levers of power.
The approval of nine new private universities, despite the moratorium, has intensified these concerns. Alausa defended the decision, explaining that the approvals addressed a backlog of 551 private university applications, some pending for over six years, with investors having already spent billions of naira on infrastructure.
“We deactivated over 350 dormant applications and set new, stricter guidelines. Of the 79 active cases, nine met the criteria and were approved,” he said.
However, ASUU argues that this move undermines the moratorium’s intent and risks further eroding academic standards.
“While ASUU acknowledges the rights of private individuals to establish universities, education must be tightly controlled to ensure quality,” Piwuna stated.
Beyond the ongoing moratorium debate, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has continued to press for the Nigerian government to address several long-standing issues that have hindered the growth and efficiency of public universities. These issues are primarily rooted in underfunding, unfulfilled agreements, and neglect of staff welfare. The key areas highlighted by ASUU include:
In 2009, ASUU and the Federal Government signed an agreement, which promised N1.2 trillion over six years to revitalize the country’s public universities. However, only a fraction of this amount has been disbursed, leading to ASUU’s consistent calls for the government to honor the agreement. The failure to fulfill this financial commitment has resulted in dilapidated infrastructure, deteriorating staff welfare, and a cycle of strikes that have significantly disrupted academic calendars.
ASUU has also raised concerns regarding the payment of unpaid salaries. Delays in salary disbursement have contributed to dissatisfaction among university staff, further fueling the union’s discontent and subsequent industrial actions. These arrears are seen as a key factor in the strained relationship between the union and the government.
Another significant point of contention is the release of funds for the revitalization of public universities. Despite the agreement made in 2009, the revitalization fund has not been fully disbursed. This has left many universities with inadequate resources, negatively impacting the quality of education and students’ learning environments.
ASUU has also highlighted the need to resolve promotion backlogs for academic staff, a critical issue in ensuring that staff members are fairly recognized and compensated for their work. The lack of attention to these backlogs has led to dissatisfaction among staff, further contributing to the tension within the university system.
Beyond specific agreements, ASUU points to the broader issue of insufficient funding for public universities. In 2022, Nigeria’s tertiary education budget allocation was a mere 5.4% of the national budget, a significant decrease from 8.4% in 2019. This is among the lowest allocations globally and has exacerbated the challenges facing the sector, including poor infrastructure, lack of teaching materials, and a deteriorating quality of education.
While initiatives such as TETFund, established in 2011, and NELFUND, launched to support student financial aid, have provided some relief, ASUU argues that these efforts are insufficient and that more comprehensive reforms are necessary. The union emphasizes that these funds need to be better managed and that additional funding and structural reforms are required to address the broader issues facing the educational sector.
ASUU insists that more than financial assistance is needed; comprehensive reforms are essential to create a sustainable and effective public university system. This includes addressing issues of governance, institutional autonomy, and ensuring that the government remains committed to fulfilling agreements that directly impact the sector’s future.