Direct Entry Candidates Now Required to Sit for UTME: JAMB
JAMB has introduced a new policy, requiring Direct Entry candidates to take the UTME. This change, aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability, was announced by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB's Head of Public Affairs and Protocol. In addition, the board remitted an interim surplus of N2 billion for 2023.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has implemented a new policy that requires Direct Entry (DE) candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) along with other candidates. This decision is intended to ensure that DE candidates can adequately justify the possession of their A’level certificates.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, announced this development at the end of the board’s recent management committee meeting. The meeting was held in response to the recent issues encountered during the 2023 DE registration process.
The newly adopted policy aims to holistically address all loopholes that have contributed to abuses in the DE admission processes. “This policy is to be situated within the ambit of the board’s relentless efforts aimed at enhancing the growth of the nation’s education sector as it would promote transparency, accountability and good governance,” Dr. Benjamin stated.
The policy change signifies JAMB’s commitment to improving the narrative surrounding A’level admissions into higher institutions in Nigeria. The board plans to press forward with its efforts to reposition the conduct of public examinations in Nigeria.
In further news, the board reported that it has remitted an interim surplus of N2 billion for the 2023 operating year. Dr. Benjamin noted that more funds would be remitted as the year’s operations were completed.
Since Prof. Is-haq Oloyede assumed office as the Board Registrar, the board has remitted over N55 billion to the Federal Government coffers. This is a significant increase compared to the less than N60 million remitted by the board in its 38 years of existence prior to Prof. Oloyede’s appointment.
Through an expanded internal capacity for its operations and direct execution of its processes, JAMB has also made considerable savings. For instance, a savings of N1.2 billion annually was achieved by ending a service contract. An additional N1.2 billion was recovered in both cash and estates in choice areas of Abuja in 2016.
Dr. Benjamin noted that these steps have allowed the board to render N7.8 billion in the first year of Oloyede’s tenure and contribute over N27 billion directly to the national treasury.