Minister warns of sanctions for violators, cites quality concerns
Determined to uphold the quality and integrity of tertiary education, the Federal Government has announced strict sanctions against federal universities operating unapproved satellite campuses.
In a memo exclusively obtained by Spear News, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to inform all federal universities that no new satellite campuses may be established without prior approval from the Minister.
The memo, dated May 30, 2025, warned that violations would attract penalties.
This move followed repeated violations of NUC regulations, despite previous warnings. Last year, the NUC reiterated that unauthorized satellite campuses remained banned, yet many universities continued expanding illegally.
The memo read in part: “This is to inform all Federal Universities that no satellite campus be established without prior approval of the Honourable Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC. Failure to comply will attract sanction”.
“A noticeable and concerning trend of Federal Universities establishing satellite campuses across the country. Many of these campuses are created without clear strategic, academic or infrastructural justifications.
“It is also pertinent to note that instead of investing in and expanding the capacity of existing main campuses, some Vice Chancellors are opting for the creation of new one which in most cases are often inadequately resourced. This practice undermines the integrity, quality and sustainability of tertiary education in Nigeria,” the minister noted.
Previously, the NUC had established a committee tasked with advising on the closure of illegal universities and satellite campuses. The committee was mandated to identify, locate, and prosecute such violations. In 2021, it was reconstituted, with the NUC hailing its efforts as a significant success. However, since then, some universities have continued to establish additional satellite campuses—many of which are poorly funded and under-resourced, lacking the necessary infrastructure, staff, and facilities to deliver quality education.
These unauthorised campuses frequently lower admission standards, contributing to a decline in academic performance and placing undue strain on the resources of main campuses. Often, universities are compelled to divert funds and personnel to sustain these off-site operations. Moreover, the illegal campuses raise serious concerns regarding transparency and accountability, as they operate without proper licensing or accreditation.
Discussion about this post