The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has provided crucial clarification regarding the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in Epe, Lagos State, confirming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted approval before the Federal Executive Council implemented a seven-year ban on new federal tertiary institutions.
Presidential Approval Preceded FEC Decision
In an official statement released by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, Dr. Alausa explained that President Tinubu authorized the creation of the university through a Presidential Executive Memo prior to the FEC's adoption of the moratorium policy.
The minister emphasized that the presidential approval for the Epe institution, along with similar universities in Kachia and Ogoniland, was secured before the council's decision to implement the seven-year suspension on establishing new federal tertiary education centers.
Timing Clarification and National Assembly Recess
Dr. Alausa addressed the timing concerns surrounding the Epe University announcement, revealing that the National Assembly's 2025 annual recess caused the delay in processing and transmitting the establishment bill to the President for final approval.
This parliamentary break created a gap between the initial presidential approval and the public announcement, leading to confusion about whether the new university violated the recently implemented moratorium.
Government's Commitment to Moratorium Policy
Despite the approval of the Epe institution, the Education Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government's dedication to enforcing the seven-year moratorium on creating new federal tertiary institutions.
The policy remains sacrosanct and binding for all future proposals, according to the official statement. The government maintains that the Epe University approval represents an exception that predates the moratorium implementation rather than a violation of the new policy.
The clarification comes amid growing public interest in the establishment of new federal universities and the government's commitment to managing the expansion of tertiary education institutions across Nigeria.
