JAMB: Reps Approve Extension Of UTME Result Validity

The proposal for the extension of the validity of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB)  from one to four years has been  approved by the House of Representatives.

The request for the extension of results lifespan, which was stated in the JAMB Amendment Bill, passed the second reading at the House on Thursday.

The bill titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2021, and Other Related Matters.’ was sponsored by Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, a member of the House of Reps. from Oyo State. 

According to Akande-Sadipe, the amendment is meant to overhaul the existing Act, most especially the validity of scores, tenure of the registrar and membership of the board, among others.

According to Akande-Sadipe, the bill, which seeks the amendment of Sections 5(1)(a) and 5(2) of the principal Act particularly, will examine the validity of UTME scores, the tenure of the register and that of members of the board, among others. 

The overhauled sections now read, “5(1)(a)(i) The general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations and admissions to courses leading to award of first Degrees, Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and Nigeria Certificate in Education by universities (by whatever name called), monotechnic/polytechnics (by whatever name called) and Colleges of Education (by whatever name called) in Nigeria which shall be valid for four years;

“5(1)(a)( ii) The conduct of entrance examinations and admission to all award of First Degrees, Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and Nigeria Certificate in Education by universities (by whatever name called), monotechnics/polytechnics (by whatever name called) and Colleges of Education (by whatever name called) in Nigeria which shall be valid for four years.

“5(2) For the avoidance of doubt, the Board shall only be responsible for determining matriculation requirements and conducting examinations and admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria offering academic programmes leading to the award of First Degrees, Higher National Diploma, National Diploma, Nigeria Certificate in Education and any other diploma or certificate in education courses, but shall not be responsible for examination or any other selective processes for postgraduate courses/programme and any other programme/courses offered by the tertiary institutions.”

UTME is an examination conducted annually by JAMB to test the readiness of students preparing to gain admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.