The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has issued a stern warning to federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria against the establishment of satellite campuses without official approval.
The Minister, who made this known in a press statement signed by the ministry Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade stated that any such expansion, carried out without clearance from the relevant regulatory bodies, would attract strict sanctions.
This directive was contained in a memo dated May 30, 2025, and addressed to the Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Dr. Alausa expressed deep concern over the increasing number of unregulated and unjustified satellite campuses being set up by federal tertiary institutions.
According to him, many of these new campuses lack the academic, infrastructural, and strategic capacity necessary to function effectively.
“The unapproved proliferation of satellite campuses undermines the integrity, quality, and sustainability of Nigeria’s tertiary education system,” the minister stated.
“Rather than focusing on improving existing campuses, some vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts are diverting limited resources to set up inadequately equipped new campuses. This is counterproductive and detrimental to educational standards,” he added.
The minister directed the NUC, NBTE, and NCCE to notify all federal tertiary institutions that no satellite campus should henceforth be established without prior approval from the Minister of Education, through the appropriate regulatory agency.
Dr. Alausa further warned that any institution found violating this directive would face disciplinary action.
He reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to ensuring that any expansion in Nigeria’s tertiary education system is strategic, well-resourced, and aligned with national development goals.
