Stakeholders Kick As FG Warns JAMB, Tertiary Institutions Against Admitting Students Below 18 Years

By Akinwale Kasali & Ayodele Oni

Perturbed by the influx of the under aged into Tertiary Institutions, the  Federal Government through the has directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB and Nigerian tertiary institutions to give admission only to candidates who are 18 years and above into the various Tertiary Institutions in the country.

The Minister for Education,  Dr Mamman Tahir, SAN, gave this directive in his address at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja on Thursday. But the directive was met with strong protests from various Stakeholders present.

The Policy meeting is a forum of critical stakeholders in the admission processes into tertiary institutions in the country including University Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Rectors, Provosts, JAMB Registrar and other officials of the examination body, among other Principal Officers of Monotechnics.

Mamman said: “JAMB is hereby instructed from admission this year to admit only eligible students. That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws”.

The Minister reiterated that the decision was backed by Nigeria’s law guiding admissions into Tertiary Institutions, and  stressed that it shouldn’t require a statement from him for that to be taken seriously by Admission Bodies.

“Our laws require students to be in school from six years —Yes, there are those who do that from five — and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years. It doesn’t require a statement of the Minister. We are only restating what is in the law,” he added.

But the Minister’s declaration was met with instant resistance from the packed hall of stakeholders representing tertiary institutions nationwide, forcing him to pause his address.

The session turned rowdy, with the Minister asking: “Are we together?” only to be met with a resounding “No!” from the crowd.

Unperturbed, the Minister continued his explanation for the new benchmark, but the uproar persisted.

It took the intervention of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to restore order with his plea, “Please attention please!”

The annual policy meeting is held to authorize the commencement of admission into tertiary institutions in the country and adopt certain admission benchmarks.