JAMB Tackles ASUU President Over Admission Comment

Professor Ishaq Oloyede

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has criticised comments attributed to the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, on the admission process into Nigerian universities, claiming that the board does not conduct admissions to the universities and other tertiary institutions as implied.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the board’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said it was unfortunate that the ASUU president was not adequately informed about the university admissions process.

“The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been drawn to the ill-informed statement made by the rattled President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke,” the statement read in part.

“In his laborious effort to curry favour with the public, the ASUU president made this unfortunate blunder when he unimaginatively said, ‘…admissions are being done by JAMB and sent to you…’

Vice-Chancellors have no idea how admissions are handled.’

“It is highly reprehensible for an academic, even if a highly regarded researcher, to have no idea how candidates are admitted or to be unprepared for such a public forum.” As a result, it is clear that the educational sector’s problem is more serious than we previously imagined.

“We challenge the professor to name one vice-chancellor of a university, rector of a polytechnic, or provost of any college of education who has not been recommended by the institution but has been admitted in the last five years.”

“The board promises the professor one million naira if he can provide even one proof of his falsehood.”