#Education: You will yourselves to blame: Education Minister warns universities

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on Thursday, warned universities against issuing illegal admission to students.

Adamu warned that institutions that offer illegitimate admission during the 2021 and 2022 exercises would be severely punished.

He disclosed this during the 2022 policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, held in Abuja.

The minister assured that candidates granted illegitimate admissions from 2017 to 2020 would be condoned provided they meet the minimum entry qualifications in their various courses of study.

According to Adamu: “In 2017, we introduced the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to eradicate the primeval activities around admission procedures towards nuzzling transparencies and accountabilities on admissions. It was on this note that it was mandated that all admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria must be carried out on the CAPS. This implies that all applications for regular and non-regular admissions to tertiary institutions must be routed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in conformity with its enabling law. I am aware that JAMB issues specific Advisories to guide different aspects of the process. I, therefore, urge every Institution to comply with those advisories in the interest of the sector.

“By the last policy meeting, I had approved that all illegitimate admissions from 2017 to 2020 be condoned provided such candidates met the minimum entry qualifications in their various courses of study. I am aware that the process led the affected institutions to declare about one million illegitimate admissions for the period.

“As soon as the process is completed, necessary measures would be put in place to track and sanction all culpable Heads of Institutions irrespective of whether they are or not still in office. I have directed a close watch on the 2021 and 2022 exercises with a view to identifying any violator for stricter punishment. I must reiterate my stance that no violator would go unpunished even after he or she must have completed the tenure of office.”