FG Scraps Post JAMB

Federal government on Thursday scrapped the controversial examinations usually organised by universities in Nigeria for admission seekers after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UMTE) otherwise known as Post UTME.

Mallam Adamu Adamu, minister of Education, who stated this in Abuja argued that if there was absolute confidence in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). there should be no need for Universities to conduct internal examinations to determine the fate of candidates seeking admissions.

Adamu, spoke while declaring open the 2016 combined policy meeting on admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria.

Adamu said, “Our universities shouldn’t be conducting another examination; if they have any complaint against JAMB, they should come to the Ministry of Education and we will look into it.

“If JAMB is qualified to conduct the computer-based test and they are conducting the test, then there should be no need for students to sit another examination to get admission

“As far as I am concerned JAMB has built a level of confidence in terms of conducting the UTME. A situation where universities go and conduct other examinations is unnecessary.”

The minister spoke in reaction to a protest by a group of students numbering about 20 at the venue of the meeting.

The protesters who blocked the entrance of the NUC office called on the government, National Assembly and other major stakeholders to put an end to the conduct of Post-UTME.

Adamu also ordered JAMB to stop extra charges for change of course, change of school, among others.

Dr. Folashade Yemi Esan, permanent secretary, ministry of Education, also reaffirmed Adamu’s position saying the decision to scrap Post-UTME was unanimously agreed by stakeholders at the meeting.

The meeting, however, agreed that 180 be adopted as general minimum cut-off points for admissions to Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and other Diploma awarding institutions respectively.