Senate halts bills for new universities, polytechnics for up to seven years

The Senate has directed its committees and the Clerk of the Senate to stop processing bills seeking to create new universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, in line with a Federal Government policy pausing new tertiary institutions.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced the directive at plenary on Wednesday in Abuja. He said the policy is meant to let existing institutions strengthen their operations and infrastructure before more are added.

He asked the Clerk, Dr Emmanuel Odo, to inform lawmakers about the government's position, noting that some senators may not be aware of it. He also advised the education committees not to bring such bills to the floor.

Bamidele acknowledged that lawmakers often find it hard to turn down colleagues seeking new institutions in their areas.

What Tinubu told National Assembly leaders

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said President Bola Tinubu had discussed the matter with National Assembly leaders and opposed new tertiary institutions for the next five to seven years.

According to Akpabio, the pause will give existing schools time to develop infrastructure and begin proper academic work. He said some recently established universities exist largely on paper, with some yet to secure permanent sites or complete site clearance.

"Establishing a university is a serious national responsibility and should not be treated with the same simplicity as establishing primary schools," Akpabio said.

He added that universities are national institutions expected to admit students from across the country, and that government has tried to spread them evenly, so the focus should now be on consolidating what exists.

The Senate then adjourned plenary until November 10, 2026.

Why it matters to students and parents

The freeze could stall or kill more than 200 pending bills for new institutions, according to Daily Post. For families hoping a new school would open near them, that means fewer new admission spaces in the short term.

The government first announced the policy in March. Education Minister Tunji Alausa said then that the temporary freeze was to strengthen existing institutions rather than expand without adequate infrastructure and resources.

He cited Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) figures showing more than 2.3 million candidates sought admission the previous year, while fewer than 228,000 got places in public universities.

Outlets differ slightly on the length of the pause. Punch and Naija News described a six-year moratorium; Akpabio spoke of five to seven years.

What happens next: The Senate resumes on November 10. Bills already in the pipeline are expected to stay off the Order Paper unless the policy changes.