BY NGOZI A NWANKWO
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has issued a stern warning to federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country, declaring that any satellite campus established without prior approval through their respective regulatory agencies National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Colleges of Education (NCCE) will face strict sanctions.
The Minister gave the warning in a memo dated May 30, 2025, and addressed to the executive secretaries of these regulatory agencies, in which 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.
According to the Minister, many of these newly created satellite campuses lack the necessary academic, strategic, and infrastructural backing to justify their existence.
Alausa emphasised that the 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 these regulatory agencies.
The Minister further stressed that failure to comply with this directive will not be treated lightly and will attract appropriate disciplinary measures.
“The Federal Ministry of Education, under the leadership of Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, remains 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,” the memo quoted the Minister.