The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has warned Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education across the country, declaring that any satellite campus established without prior approval through their respective regulatory agencies, the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education and the National Colleges of Education will face strict sanctions.

This directive was contained in a memo sighted by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, 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. 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,” the minister stated.

Alausa 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.”

He further stressed that “Failure to comply with this directive will not be treated lightly and will attract appropriate disciplinary measures.”