Lawmakers have introduced 32 bills in both the Senate and the House of Representatives proposing the establishment of additional federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria. This move, initiated since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, has sparked concerns, especially from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). ASUU has cautioned against the establishment of new institutions amid inadequate funding for existing ones. Nigeria currently has 52 federal universities, 63 state universities, and 147 private universities.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) reports 40 federal polytechnics, 49 state-owned polytechnics, and 76 private polytechnics. Additionally, there are 70 federal and state-owned colleges of health, with 17 private colleges of health, according to the NBTE.
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) lists 219 colleges of education in the country. ASUU leaders, including Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin of the Federal University of Minna, criticized the lawmakers for what they perceive as misplaced priorities, urging a focus on improving existing institutions rather than creating new ones. Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, the Programme Director at Reform Education Nigeria, accused lawmakers of pursuing political goals at the expense of practical educational improvements.
