FG orders varsities to substantiate requests for additional staff – Daily Trust

The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors of federal universities to present proof of staff shortages, labour-market demand and relevance to nationwide human capital improvement priorities earlier than in search of approval for additional personnel.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, issued the directive in a letter dated October 19, 2026, addressed to vice-chancellors of all federal universities, expressing concern over rising manpower requests and their monetary implications for the federal government.
Alausa mentioned the prevailing course of for requesting additional personnel failed to adequately think about the associated fee implications, that are borne fully by the Federal Government.
The minister additionally expressed concern over requests for personnel to help tutorial programmes with restricted labour-market demand or inadequate alignment with the nation’s human capital improvement priorities.
Under the brand new directive, universities are anticipated to prioritise vacancies arising from staff attrition, together with retirement, resignation, demise, dismissal and switch.

However, requests for additional recruitment past these vacancies, significantly these linked to new programs, tutorial programmes or institutional enlargement, will endure stricter scrutiny.

Alausa mentioned universities in search of approval for such recruitment should present clear proof of labour-market demand, graduate employability and the proposed programmes’ relevance to nationwide improvement priorities.