News Post

The Senate on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 has formally adopted a Legislative Agenda for its operations and also considered and passed a Motion on JAMB New Admission Policy. The adoption of the Legislative Agenda followed resumed consideration of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee report on 8th Senate Legislative Agenda which was deferred to another legislative date on Thursday, October 8, 2015 by the Chamber. 

The consideration was led by Senate Leader, Muhammed Ali Ndume who urged Senators to critically look at the report with a view to making inputs before its adoption. He added that the Legislative Agenda will serve as a compass that directs the operations of the 8th Senate which is subject to changes and additions.

The Senate Leader moved that the Senate do adopt the Legislative Agenda and was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Akpabio. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki puts the Legislative Agenda on voice before the Hallowed Chamber and the response was in the affirmative. Sen. Saraki expressed joy over the adoption of the agenda stating that it is the first of its kind in the history of the Senate. He noted that the Legislative Agenda would enhance the smooth operations of the Red Chamber and ensure strict legislative compliance. The Senate President congratulated his colleagues over the adoption of the Agenda.

Similarly, the Upper Legislative Chamber has debated and passed a Motion titled “JAMB New Admission Policy”. The Motion was sponsored by Sen. Joshua Lidani and five others.

 

Leading the debate, Sen. Lidani noted that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) created by an Act of the National Assembly in 1989 to administer a centralized admission system for Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria. Accordingly, Section 5 (1) (c) iii of the JAMB’s Act 2004 stated the functions of the Board among other things is the is the general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations for admission into all Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education as well as the placement of suitable qualified candidates into tertiary institutions having taken into account the preferences expressed or otherwise indicated by candidates for certain tertiary institutions and courses.

Consequently, the Senate is aware that JAMB in 2015 adopted a policy whereby candidates of Universities with surplus applications for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) are reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates than their capacities. In view of this, the Motion sailed through with three prayers stated below:

1) Urge JAMB to consult widely with Parents Teachers Association, ASUU and all other stakeholders in the Education Sector with a view to coming out with a friendlier, holistic, comprehensive and sustainable admission policy.

2) Direct the Senate Committee on Education to inquire into circumstances surrounding the JAMB Policy including all allegations of favoritism and generally review the power of JAMB vis a vis admission.

3) Urge JAMB to increase the validity of its examination admission result from one year to three year.