Nigeria Suspends New Polytechnics & Monotechnics Registration for One Year

The Federal Government has placed a one-year suspension on the registration of new polytechnics and monotechnics across Nigeria. This decision, approved by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, aims to regulate the establishment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

However, health institutions are exempt from this suspension due to concerns over low enrollment rates.

In an official statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, confirmed that the moratorium takes immediate effect. This means no new applications for polytechnics and monotechnics will be processed for the next 12 months.

For institutions currently undergoing assessment, certain financial obligations must be met to continue their registration process. According to Prof. Bugaje:

• Polytechnics awaiting ministerial approval must pay an N4 million application fee and N2 million per program processing fee.
• Monotechnics are required to pay an N2 million application fee and N1 million per program processing fee.
• Payment must be made within 30 days, or the application will be terminated.
• Newly established health institutions, which are exempt from the ban, will follow the same fee structure as monotechnics.

The NBTE executive secretary emphasized that this policy aims to ensure proper student distribution within the carrying capacity of existing institutions, maintaining quality and efficiency in technical and vocational education.