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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Federal Government has warned tertiary institutions, notably, universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education against establishing and operating satellite campuses that are not approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in a statement, yesterday, directed the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to ensure strict compliance with the directive to avoid sanctions.
The Minister expressed serious concern over the growing trend of unregulated and unjustified establishment of satellite campuses by Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, stating that severe sanctions await defaulter-institutions
The minister noted that many of the newly created satellite campuses lacked the necessary academic, strategic and infrastructural backing to justify their existence, hence, the decision to shut them down.
“This unapproved proliferation of satellite campuses undermines the integrity, quality and sustainability of Nigeria’s tertiary education system. Rather than focusing on improving existing campuses, some Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts are diverting limited resources to set up inadequately equipped new satellite campuses, which is counterproductive and detrimental to educational standards,” he stated.
He directed the three regulatory agencies, NUC, NBTE and NCCE to formally inform all federal tertiary institutions under their purview that, henceforth, no satellite campus is to be established without the express approval of the Minister of Education through the regulatory agencies.
He further stressed that failure to comply with the directive would not be treated lightly and would attract appropriate disciplinary measures. “We remain committed to upholding the standards of higher education in Nigeria and ensuring that every expansion within our tertiary education system is strategically planned, well-resourced and aligned with national development goals.”
