The federal government has cautioned federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country 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 would face strict sanctions.
Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, stated this in a memo on Wednesday, May 30.
The letter was addressed to the executive secretaries of these regulatory agencies and 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 said 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.
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Alausa ordered the three regulatory agencies, NUC, NBTE and NCCE, to inform all federal tertiary Institutions under their purview that no satellite campus is to be established without the express approval of the minister of education through these regulatory agencies.
He stressed that “failure to comply with this directive will not be treated lightly and will attract appropriate disciplinary measures.”
