Senate asks JAMB to extend validity of results to 3 years

The Senate, yesterday, directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to extend the validity of its results to a period of at least three years. JAMB was also ordered to immediately stop its policy of re-assigning candidates to schools they didn't apply to, saying such policy was contrary to the act establishing the board.

The order came following a motion entitled: ”JAMB’s New Admission Policy, “ sponsored by Senator  Joshua  Lidani, APC, Gombe South, which was debated during plenary.

They also urged JAMB to consult widely with Parents Teachers Association, PTA, ASUU and all other stakeholders in the education sector with a view to coming out with a friendlier holistic, comprehensive and sustainable admissions policy.

It also directed its Committee on Education to enquire into circumstances surrounding the JAMB policy, including all allegations of favouritism and generally review the power of JAMB vis-a-vis administration and submit findings within one week.

Lidani said JAMB, at its 2015 Combined Policy Meeting, held on July 14, 2015, in Abuja, announced the adoption of a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, were reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates than their capacities. Which he said was inappropriate because some candidates get sent to private universities that they cant afford.