The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a drastic plan to suspend Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocations to federal universities and colleges recording persistently low student enrollment figures.
Poor Admission Numbers Trigger Policy Shift
This decision follows alarming data from the Federal Ministry of Education revealing that at least 20 federal tertiary institutions admitted fewer than 1,000 students each during the 2024/2025 academic session. The report highlights extreme cases where some institutions barely registered new entrants.
The Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, admitted only 184 students, while the Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, enrolled just 65 candidates. Other significantly underpopulated institutions include the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (568 students), Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (942 students), and the Federal Polytechnic, N'yak Shendam (89 students).
Most startling was the Federal College of Education (Technical), ISU, which admitted a mere 38 candidates despite millions of Nigerian students seeking tertiary education annually.
Funding to be Linked to Enrollment Figures
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, disclosed the new policy during the 2025 Policy Meeting on tertiary education in Abuja. She questioned why institutions with fewer than 1,000 students should receive equal financial support as universities with tens of thousands of enrollees.
The policy, expected to take effect from 2026, will establish a minimum enrollment benchmark for TETFund eligibility. Professor Ahmad urged affected institutions to improve their enrollment levels to continue benefiting from TETFund grants.
The Ministry also confirmed that the establishment of new universities has been suspended until existing institutions reach sustainable capacity.
Experts Identify Preference for Established Universities
Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin attributed the enrollment crisis to candidate preferences for older, established universities with stronger reputations. He explained that most candidates and parents would rather choose institutions like the University of Ibadan even if admission isn't guaranteed, rather than opt for newer schools.
This preference creates a significant imbalance in the distribution of students across Nigeria's 278 universities, leaving newer institutions struggling to attract candidates despite available facilities and resources.
According to JAMB data, more than six million candidates who sat for the UTME between 2020 and 2024 failed to gain admission into any tertiary institution, highlighting the paradox of underpopulated institutions amid massive unmet demand.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had earlier described the push by lawmakers to create more universities as unrealistic, warning that some existing ones lack sufficient students to justify their operation. The ministry insists that rationalizing funding will improve efficiency and encourage institutions to compete for quality and relevance.
