The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has stated that the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board does not have the authority to conduct admissions to higher education institutions.
According to a statement issued by ASUU’s national president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, JAMB’s handling of higher education admissions constituted an infringement on university sovereignty.
It stated that JAMB has no authority to determine entrance qualifications or to grant or deny admission to university programs.
“The autonomy of universities is under increasing threat by the meddlesome activities of JAMB in admission processes and regulation of academic activities in the Nigerian University System.
“JAMB was created by an Act of the National Assembly in 1978 and is responsible for the conduct of matriculation examinations for admission into a tertiary institution in Nigeria, the appointment of examiners and collection/dissemination of information on all matters relating to entrance examinations.
“It is the prerogative and responsibility of each university senate to superintend over all academic matters in the university. These include setting the admission requirements and approval of university undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,” the union said.
According to ASUU, JAMB is an examination body and clearinghouse for tertiary admissions.
“Giving admission to candidates is the duty of the (school’s) senate, while regulation or accreditation of programmers is the prerogative of National Universities Commission,” ASUU said.
“However, it is a matter of regret that JAMB is operating outside its jurisdiction of collecting and disseminating information on matters relating to admissions from respective institutions based on senate recommendations.
“We call upon JAMB to desist from overstepping its original mandate and allow Universities to decide on admission policies and processes.”
ASUU also called the nomination of Dr Isa Pantami, Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, as Professor of Cybersecurity by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, “illegal.”
Pantami was not qualified, according to ASUU, and the appointment went against established protocols for the appointment of professors at the university.
“You may recall that our union disassociated itself from the appointment of Dr Isa Pantami as a professor of cybersecurity by the FUTO during our NEC meeting held at the University of Abuja on 18th-19thNovember, 2021, until a Fact-Finding Team to be dispatched to the branch reports its findings. The team visited the branch on 10th-14thFebruary, 2022, and reported back to NEC. As a result of the comprehensive report submitted on all the relevant matters, NEC hereby rejects in its entity the purported appointment of Pantami as a professor of cybersecurity.
“From the evidence available to us, Pantami was not qualified, and the said appointment violated established procedure for appointment of professors in the university.
“NEC directed all members and branches of our union throughout the Nigerian federation not to recognise, accord or treat Dr Isa Pantami as a professor of cybersecurity under any guise. NEC also resolved to sanction all ASUU members who participated in the process that led to the illegal appointment in accordance with the established procedures of our union.”
Source: Nyscinfo