By Onyeanya Ebere
The Federal Government has warned federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education against establishing satellite campuses without prior approval, vowing strict sanctions for defaulters.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued the warning 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).
According to the memo, sighted by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, the minister expressed deep concern over the growing trend of unapproved and unjustified satellite campuses being set up by federal tertiary institutions.
“Many of these newly created satellite campuses lack the necessary academic, strategic, and infrastructural backing to justify their existence,” Alausa stated.
He added that the proliferation of such 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. This is counterproductive and detrimental to educational standards,” he said.
Dr. Alausa directed the NUC, NBTE, and NCCE to formally notify 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, conveyed through the appropriate regulatory agency.
“Failure to comply with this directive will not be treated lightly and will attract appropriate disciplinary measures,” the minister warned.