The Federal Government has announced a significant increase in the fees for establishing private universities in Nigeria, raising the total cost to N30 million. The National Universities Commission (NUC) disclosed that the new fee structure includes N5 million for the application form and N25 million as a processing fee.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NUC also imposed a one-year moratorium on the establishment of new private universities, suspending all inactive applications, including those for private open universities. The moratorium affects applicants who have not made progress on their submissions for over two years.
The statement, signed by NUC Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, explained that the review aligns with the provisions of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The Act empowers the NUC to set guidelines for the establishment of private universities.
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According to Ribadu, the application form fee has been increased from N1 million to N5 million, while the processing fee has risen from N5 million to N25 million. “The NUC will convey the reviewed Processing Fee of Twenty-Five Million (N25,000,000.00) Naira to applicants that have purchased Application Forms only. They are also expected to effect payments within a period of thirty (30) working days or risk forfeiture of their pending applications,” the statement read.
The NUC boss emphasized that the move aims to reposition private universities to better meet the needs of Nigerians and improve coordination within the Nigerian University System (NUS). “This is to ensure that newly established private universities are positioned to meet the challenges of the 21st Century,” he said.
The moratorium, effective from February 10, 2025, applies to:
1. Inactive applications for new private universities to allow the NUC to review their viability.
2. Applications at the initial stage of submitting letters of intent.
3. New applications for private universities, including private open universities.
Ribadu added that the NUC is reviewing other aspects of the guidelines for establishing private universities to ensure they meet modern educational demands. “Details of the review would be communicated to stakeholders in due course. For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission will continue to process pending active applications and make appropriate recommendations to the Federal Executive Council for approval,” he said.
The decision reflects the government’s efforts to streamline the establishment of private universities while ensuring quality and sustainability in the sector.