President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria should focus on improving existing institutions, as the Nigerian Senate has recommended the suspension of legislative processes for the establishment of new universities, polytechnics and other higher institutions.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, made the announcement on Tuesday during plenary, urging members and relevant committees to adhere to the Federal Government’s stance on the planned five-to-seven year embargo.
Bamidele ordered the Clerk of the Senate to officially inform members of the National Assembly of the decision, adding that some parliamentarians may not be aware of the government’s position.
He also warned the Senate committees on education not to prepare or introduce proposals requesting the establishment of new tertiary institutions for plenary consideration.
He said parliamentarians were always under pressure from their colleagues to legislate for the establishment of universities and other higher institutions in their constituencies, the Senate Leader said.
However, he argued that the instruction committed the Senate to halting such legislative measures, consistent with the position of the government.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who supported the move, said President Tinubu had discussed the matter with the leadership of the National Assembly and stated his opposition to the establishment of more universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions in the next five to seven years.
The proposed embargo was meant to provide the current institutions enough time to expand their infrastructure, strengthen their academic programs and establish the facilities needed for effective operations, Akpabio said.
He said he was worried that many of the new universities that had opened were not completely functional, with some apparently having no permanent locations or completed site-clearing processes.
The setting up of a university is a huge task and needs a lot of preparation, infrastructure and financial commitment, he said adding that it should not be considered as a usual process.
The Senate President said, “Universities are national institutions and they are supposed to accommodate students from all parts of the country, regardless of their geographical locations.
He also said that the Federal Government had taken steps to ensure a fair distribution of universities around the country, hence resources should be channelled toward increasing the capacity and performance of the existing ones.
Akpabio then asked the Clerk of the Senate to ensure that measures aiming to establish additional tertiary institutions were no longer posted for consideration.
This decision effectively establishes a legislative moratorium on new proposals for federal higher education institutions during the proposed moratorium period while the government concentrates on the development and successful operation of existing universities and polytechnics.
It is hoped the policy will indicate overcoming infrastructure deficits, enhancing the quality of academic offerings and ensuring that existing institutions are well-equipped with the facilities and resources to undertake their duties.
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