AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI ON THE PUBLIC HEARING BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND TETFUND ON THE MOTION: THE REGULATORY CONFLICT BETWEEN JAMB AND UNIVERSITIES IN OFFERING UNIVERSITY ADMISSION IN NIGERIA; ON 24TH OCTOBER, 2017.

Protocol;

I thank the Chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for the privilege to declare open this Public Hearing on the motion: The Regulatory Conflict between Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Universities in offering University Admission in Nigeria.

In recent times, there have been various commentaries and criticisms bordering on the lowering of standards for admission into Universities and the roles played by JAMB, the constitutionally recognized regulatory body on the one hand and the authorities of the various universities on the other hand as it relates to the issue of admission.

While some stakeholders argue that JAMB has been plagued with cases of corruption ranging from falsification of results in active collaboration of JAMB officials with unscrupulous parents and candidates to deliberate lowering of standards with the excuse of complying with Quota system requirements, yet some other stakeholders argue that university authorities take advantage of the post UME exercise to extort huge sums of money from parents and guardians of candidates.

A situation whereby some universities admit students outside the list sent by JAMB, thereby rejecting candidates with admission letters from JAMB on the ground that they had to comply with their own internal quota and catchment calculation, coupled with the issue of malpractices that plague JAMB examinations leaves so much to be desired of our country’s system of admission into universities. We cannot continue to fold our arms to the increasing numbers of our children who are constrained to go to neigbouring countries for university education simply because of the self inflicted difficulty in the process of gaining admission right here in Nigeria.

It is on this note that I express sincere gratitude to the sponsor of this motion, Senator Umaru Kurfi, for giving the parliament a unique opportunity to spearhead a sensible, credible and efficient system of admission into our citadels of learning. His motion observes that the problems associated with JAMB have not been addressed with the introduction of the post UME screening but rather exacerbated the challenges facing the country’s education system. There is therefore an urgent need to simplify the process of gaining admission in to our universities.

I expect that this esteemed gathering of Committee members, professionals and stakeholders would make relevant and useful submissions that will guide the Senate in ensuring that the most efficient and effective system of university admission is bequeathed to both our citizens and the nation’s education sector.

Distinguished colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to hereby declare this Public Hearing open and wish you all fruitful deliberations.

Thank you for your attention.

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE