The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), via the Federal Ministry of Education, has stated that the presidential approval to establish the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos State, was granted prior to the seven-year moratorium imposed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on new federal tertiary institutions.
This was made known by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on Sunday on the ministry’s official X handle.
According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of the universities in Epe, Lagos State, as well as the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kachia, Kaduna State, and the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Tai and Koroma, Ogoniland, Rivers State, “through a presidential executive memo prior to the FEC’s decision.”
A post on X reads as follows: “The ministry explained that the announcement of the Epe University came later due to the National Assembly’s 2025 annual recess, which delayed the passage and transmission of the establishment bill to the President.”
The ministry, however, reiterated the government’s dedication to the moratorium, saying, “The Federal Government remains fully committed to enforcing the seven-year moratorium on the creation of new federal tertiary institutions. The policy remains sacrosanct and binding.”