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The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has imposed a 10-year moratorium on the Atiba University, Oyo State, over deficiencies in its facilities and violations of regulations governing legal education.

The decision was contained in resolutions adopted at the Council’s Third Quarter Hybrid Meeting held on August 13, 2026, at the headquarters of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja.

In a statement signed by Aderonke O. Osho, Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, and posted on the Council’s official page on Monday, the Council said the moratorium followed its finding that Atiba University’s facilities were “inappropriate and inadequate” for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law.

It also said the university violated its admission policy by admitting and graduating students without obtaining the requisite approval.

“The Council also approved a ten-year moratorium in respect of Atiba University, Oyo State, following its finding that the institution’s facilities were inappropriate and inadequate for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law,” the Council said.

It added that the institution had admitted and graduated students without obtaining the requisite approval.

“The Council further found that the institution had violated its admission policy by admitting and graduating students without obtaining the requisite approval,” it stated.

According to the Council, the 10-year moratorium was imposed as a regulatory measure to ensure compliance with prescribed standards for legal education.

The Council said the decision was also aimed at reinforcing adherence to the regulatory framework and protecting the quality, integrity and standards of legal education in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Council approved five universities to commence the study of Law from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The institutions, each approved with an initial admission quota of 50 students for their 100-level intakes, are Amadeus University, Amazi, Abia State; Akwa Ibom State University; European University of Nigeria, Abuja; Oduduwa University, Ipetu-Modu, Osun State; and Peaceland University, Enugu.

The Council, however, declined to grant approval to Maranatha University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to commence a Law programme, citing “numerous deficiencies” identified during its verification exercise.

It also approved upward reviews of admission quotas for several universities.

Bowen University, Ajayi Crowther University and Topfaith University had their quotas increased from 50 to 100 students for the 2026/2027 academic session.

North-Eastern University’s quota was increased from 50 to 75 students, while Elizade University’s was raised from 70 to 120. Chrisland University’s quota was also increased from 50 to 70 students.

Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s quota was raised from 50 to 100 students, while Olabisi Onabanjo University’s was increased from 170 to 220, with both changes taking effect from the 2027/2028 academic session.

The Council said the decisions followed reports from its Facilities Verification and Accreditation Panel after visits to the affected universities.

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Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has admitted that President Bola Tinubu’s government has achieved some headway in stabilizing the foreign exchange market by following standard market forces.

During a discussion on News Central Television, Ezekwesili pointed out that this single positive step has unfortunately failed to improve the day-to-day living standards of ordinary citizens.

She emphasized that the general populace is yet to experience the tangible benefits of the administration’s broader financial overhaul.

In her view, the country remains in a difficult position as severe poverty persists and the cost of living continues its upward trend.

“The only thing that, as I said at the beginning, we can give to them is that they are getting a handle on macroeconomic stability. So, for example, the volatility we have with foreign exchange rate is quieter because they are abiding by market principles for foreign exchange policy.

“Then you look at inflation. Inflation, even though they use the methodology to crash it in terms of the numbers, but the real thing is that the cost of living for the average citizen is still pretty high,” she stated.

The former minister also criticized how the administration has managed inflation, arguing that the dramatic surge in commodity prices could have been avoided through better policy coordination.

She stressed that broader economic indicators must be analyzed alongside the core structural hurdles currently burdening the Nigerian economy.

Furthermore, she pointed to sluggish productivity levels as a primary barrier holding back sustainable economic expansion, job creation, and household income growth.

Ezekwesili concluded by linking the nation’s ongoing financial struggles to foundational policy misalignments that have neglected to unlock productivity and genuine economic opportunities.

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The Oyo State Government has condemned the exclusion of Governor Seyi Makinde from the official flag-off ceremony of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road dualisation project held on Monday at Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.

The state government described the development as an unnecessary politicisation of a major federal infrastructure project, saying the deliberate exclusion of the governor amounted to taking politics too far.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the government said the ceremony, which was attended by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, APC gubernatorial candidate Sarafadeen Alli and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, was overshadowed by what it described as a desperate political undertone.

Oyelade said the event fell short of the significance attached to the road project, arguing that the exclusion of the host state’s governor reflected a lack of political maturity and confidence.

He dismissed the explanation that Governor Makinde was not invited because he was currently on leave, noting that the state has a functioning acting governor who is available to represent the government at official engagements.

According to him, the decision to exclude Makinde from the ceremony was difficult to justify, particularly given the importance of the road to Oyo State and its residents.

The commissioner, however, said Governor Makinde remained unperturbed by the development, but regretted that an important infrastructure project had been reduced to what he described as a political jamboree.

Oyelade maintained that the Oyo State Government remained focused on the development and welfare of its people, irrespective of political considerations surrounding the 2027 elections.

He added that the state’s political direction would ultimately be determined by the people, stressing that attempts to intimidate or distract the administration would not alter their democratic choices.

“The course of 2027 is set, and no level of indecorum or desperation from whatever quarters will hold back the will of the people,” Oyelade said.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting projects capable of improving transportation, boosting economic activities and strengthening connectivity between Oyo State and neighbouring states.