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Special Report : “More Universities, Less Funding: The Paradox of Nigeria’s Higher Education”

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9 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The long-standing rivalry between the Federal Government of Nigeria(FGN) and the Academic Staff Union Of Universities(ASUU) has caused a lot harm than good. And for the fact that the essence of the feud borders on a call for good renumerations for the serving lecturers is what so many people find disturbing. Don’t they deserve a good pay? Are they demanding too much? Or, are there no resources to meet those demands?

Questions like the ones posed above have made people react differently to the prevailing fight between the duo. But the one thing worrisome about the whole saga is the students being at the receiving end.

For over a decade, there have been strike actions by the union, expressing dissatisfaction with the manner in which the federal government of Nigeria handles welfarism of its members. The strike, which always comes and goes intermittently, has caused a lot of setbacks and disruption in the academic journey of many Nigerians schooling in the public universities.

Barring a last minute intervention, a fresh strike action by the union will be enforced before the year runs out. And as usual, students would be forced to go back home. Panels and committees had been inaugurated severally to discuss and arrive at an agreeable term between the two parties, but all to no avail. What must be done to settle this unending phenomenon once and for all?

On the other hand is the issue of mass proliferation of universities and federal polytechnics by the federal government of Nigeria. The current higher institutions of learning are barely being managed as they should be grossly underfunded. And the government is giving approval for the creation of other dozens of them. It could be said that it is a systemic move by the government, and the execution is being done geographically.

A detailed account of this development right from the administration of former president Jonathan, down to this very present government, will make it crystal clear that the government is indecisive in handling educational policies of this country.

Jonathan came into power and initiated the “one-state-one-federal-university” policy which gave rise to the creation of more universities during his tenure. Same way, the late president Buhari took over power in 2015 and approved the conversion of many existing agricultural colleges and institutions into full-fledged universities of agriculture and technology. Now, right from 2023 to date, the Tinubu’s administration has taken the same route as the previous two with the approval of nine new institutions in the first three months of this year.

However, in a sudden reversal, the Federal Government in August 2025 imposed a seven-year suspension on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This came after the National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier, in February 2025, declared a one-year moratorium on new private university applications. According to Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, the suspension was a “reset button” to halt the unchecked proliferation that was leading to a decline in quality. He explained that many federal institutions are underutilized—one with 1,200 staff has fewer than 800 students—while resources are overstretched and duplication has become rampant.

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The policy, however, did not stop the approval of nine private universities during the same Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in August. These were not new submissions but long-pending applications that had already passed evaluation before the moratorium took effect. Alongside this, the NUC is reviewing its guidelines for establishing private universities and intensifying its clampdown on illegal institutions.

On The Proliferation of Higher Institutions

Again, Dr. Auwalu Muttaqa expressed great dissatisfaction with the development, attributing the trend to one of the reasons behind their setbacks in the education sector of Nigeria:

“On the other hand is the growing concern amidst the creation of several universities and polytechnics in addition to the ones existing which are not being properly funded.”

“The lecturers are demanding for a descent welfarism which has not been met, instead the government finds it satisfying to create more of institutions which indirectly means more academics. Who does that? Does that even make sense?”

He also linked the proliferation to political interests:

“By the time each of those house of representatives or senators demands that a university or polytechnic should be created in their constituencies, everywhere would be flooded with dilapidated higher institutions because none of them cares for the proper funding of these institutions. And they do all that because of votes. They need something to campaign with.”

According to him, even the new moratorium by the government is a reactionary measure, not a well-thought-out policy shift:

“Let us tell ourselves the truth, there’s a serious brain drain issue in the education sector of this country, and nobody is willing to talk about proffering solutions to it now until it escalates to a point that will be uncontrollable. The suspension is good on paper, but without addressing funding and staffing, it changes nothing.”

In a stark contrast, Shola Sherif, a medical student, opined that the country is currently not capacitated to accommodate students applying into various undergraduate programs, hence the reason why assenting to more creation of higher institutions of learning isn’t a bad thing:

“There are over 1.5 million prospective candidates of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board(JAMB) every year, and the federal, state and private universities combined can only offer admission to about 500,000 to 700,000 of these candidates. So, it’s, to me, the most sensible thing to do creating more higher institutions.”

In response, his colleague, Mubarak asked:

“They should keep on establishing more institutions while the existing ones are not being properly funded?”

And Shola replied:

“We seriously need to manage. Would you rather have those millions of brilliant minds waste at home because you need proper funding?”

The proliferation of universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria is a deliberate and accelerated policy trend that has been most prominent since 2000s, with a significant surge between 2010 and 2023 as discussed in the first part of this piece. According to some, as disclosed by Shola Sherif, the strategy is primarily driven by the need to address the critical and growing imbalance: the massive demand for university education versus the severely limited supply of admission space.

While on the other hand are those advocating for proper funding of these institutions or the newly established institutions should be scrapped; citing the shortage of academic staff in the country due to brain drain which will definitely make the new institutions created not only deficient in funding but also in academic manpower.

Also, others see the incessant strike actions by the Academic Staff Union Of Universities(ASUU) as a selfish attitude, urging them to resign if their demands are not being met. The issue, in all honesty, should be resolved amicably in the sense that both parties will be happy at the end.

At the heart of it all, however, lies the bone of contention: proper funding of universities and enhanced welfare and remuneration for academic staff. The underfunding of the higher institutions of learning is realistic, it’s not a hearsay. And the funding capacity by the government is never a big deal—what is lacking is the political will to prioritize education.

So the questions are:

Is the government willing to fund the various higher institutions of learning, and create enabling environments for the attainment of human capital development by the academics?

Should the academic staff who found the treatment from the government unsatisfying tender their resignation letter instead of embarking on strike every now and then?

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President Tinubu Names New Petroleum Institute After Late Gen Shehu Musa Yar’adua

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20 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new university in Kaduna State and named it after Late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to the honour the former Chief of  Staff Supreme Headquarters (equivalent to Vice President)as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebration on June 12.

The President announced the decision on Friday during his Democracy Day nationwide broadcast that the Federal Government had approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

Tinubu said the decision was taken in recognition of Yar’Adua’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and his vision of national unity and partnership.

The late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, an older brother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was one of the political gladiators in the aborted Third Republic and advocate of June 12, 1993 presidential election actualisation.

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“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” the President said.

“In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology,” Tinubu declared.

The President paid tribute to other prominent figures, living and dead, who played significant roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.

He described June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s history and remembered several heroes of the democratic movement, including late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, whom he said helped lay the foundation for the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.

Tinubu noted that the country owed a debt of gratitude to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and even death in the fight for democratic governance.

He also announced national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, lawyers, politicians and military officers who, according to him, suffered persecution and incarceration during the struggle to restore democratic rule in Nigeria.

Among those recognised were Arthur Nwankwo, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, Richard Akinnola, Ishola Williams and several military officers who participated in the June 12 democratic struggle.

Tinubu said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, the President said the country has enjoyed 27 uninterrupted years of civilian rule since 1999, describing it as the longest stretch of democratic governance in the nation’s history.

He urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions, stressing that the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes must not be in vain.

“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” Tinubu said.

The President expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying democracy must translate into improved living standards, economic opportunities and security for all citizens.

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We Could Only Watch Helplessly’ — Kano Traders Recount Horror of Market Inferno

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1 day ago

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June 12, 2026

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A fire incident has destroyed a popular home appliances and office furniture market located along Murtala Mohammed Way in Kano, leaving traders counting losses running into millions of naira.

It was gathered that the fire broke out at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday and rapidly spread across the market, engulfing shops and their contents before firefighters could bring the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses said the fire consumed a large section of the market, reducing valuable goods and property to ashes.

One of the affected traders, who spoke to newsmen, described the incident as a major disaster for business owners operating in the market.

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According to him, the fire completely gutted several shops, destroying goods worth millions of naira.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. We could only watch helplessly as officials of the Kano State Fire Service battled to contain the inferno,” the trader said.

He further disclosed that the fire extended to a nearby building occupied by the international courier company, DHL, where part of the roof was damaged by the flames.

The affected market, located between the DHL office and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) along Murtala Mohammed Way, is widely known for the sale of household and office furnishing items, including furniture, carpets, air conditioners, refrigerators, mattresses, televisions and other interior decoration materials.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the fire had not been officially established, while authorities were yet to provide an estimate of the total value of property destroyed.

Traders affected by the incident have appealed to the government and relevant authorities for support as they begin to assess the extent of their losses and rebuild their businesses.

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Northern Youths Hail National Assembly’s Approval of State Police, Describe Move as Landmark Security Reform

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1 day ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has commended the National Assembly for its approval of the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police across Nigeria, describing the development as a landmark step toward addressing the country’s persistent security challenges.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Abdulhafiz Garba, the group said the overwhelming support for the bill by federal lawmakers reflects a growing national consensus on the need to strengthen security through a more decentralized and community-focused policing system.

According to the assembly, the endorsement of the bill by 289 legislators, with only four voting against it, demonstrates the urgency attached to security reforms and the recognition that local communities must play a more active role in maintaining peace and order.

The group noted that insecurity has remained one of the most pressing concerns across Northern Nigeria, where communities have grappled with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, and communal conflicts. These challenges, it said, have disrupted economic activities, displaced families, and undermined social stability across the region.

The NYA argued that while officers of the Nigeria Police Force have continued to make sacrifices in the line of duty, the existing centralized policing structure has struggled to adequately respond to the country’s complex and evolving security threats due to Nigeria’s vast population and geographical size.

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It maintained that the creation of State Police would provide an additional layer of security by enabling state governments to establish law enforcement agencies capable of responding swiftly to local challenges while complementing federal security institutions.

The assembly highlighted intelligence gathering as one of the major advantages of the proposed reform. It explained that security personnel recruited from local communities would possess deeper knowledge of the language, culture, terrain, and social environment of their states, making it easier to detect criminal activities and prevent threats before they escalate.

The group further stated that decentralized policing would improve emergency response times, as state-controlled police formations would be able to act promptly without waiting for instructions from distant command structures.

Beyond security, the Northern Youth Assembly said the reform could create significant employment opportunities for young people. It noted that recruitment into state police services would provide jobs for thousands of youths while helping to reduce unemployment and strengthen community engagement.

According to the organization, improved security would also encourage investment, boost agricultural production, revive local economies, and facilitate safer movement of goods and people across Northern Nigeria.

The group pointed to several countries operating successful decentralized policing systems, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany. It argued that these examples demonstrate that state-based policing structures can coexist with federal law enforcement agencies without undermining national unity.

Rather than weakening the federation, the assembly said decentralized policing has proven effective in enhancing accountability, improving public safety, and ensuring more responsive governance in many democratic nations.

Describing the passage of the bill as a historic moment, the NYA said the reform offers renewed hope for communities affected by insecurity and represents a significant step toward building a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

The organization pledged its continued support for policies aimed at promoting peace, security, youth empowerment, economic development, and national unity, while urging relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed State Police framework once it becomes law.

 

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