By Ade Iyamoye
Despite Nigeria’s struggling public universities, President Bola Tinubu has continued to establish new tertiary institutions without a sustainable funding model.
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has created 12 new institutions—eight universities, two polytechnics, and two colleges of education—while existing schools struggle with unpaid electricity bills and inadequate budget allocations.
At least three universities were disconnected from the power grid in 2024 over unpaid bills, while others faced massive fee hikes despite a presidential directive against arbitrary increases.
The funding crisis has also fueled tensions between the government and university unions, with ASUU warning that Tinubu’s rapid expansion is stretching resources thin.
Critics argue that without a clear financial strategy, the proliferation of new schools risks deepening the crisis in Nigeria’s higher education system.
