Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education
The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos, received presidential approval before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) imposed a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa stated that President Bola Tinubu had approved the establishment of Epe, Kachia, and Ogoniland universities via a Presidential Executive Memo before the FEC decision.
The ministry noted that delays in announcing the Epe University were due to the National Assembly’s 2025 annual recess, which postponed the passage and transmission of the establishment bill to the President. Despite this, the government reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the moratorium, citing concerns over underutilised institutions, overstretched resources, and declining academic quality.
Alausa stressed that Nigeria’s tertiary system now faces challenges in terms of efficiency, infrastructure, staffing, and low enrollment, rather than access. The clarification is intended to assure the public that pre-approved universities will proceed while the moratorium policy remains in effect.
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