UTME Result Should Be Valid For 3 Years — NASS Member

A bill to amend the law establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and enable it to increase the validity of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination to three years has been introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives.

This was made known on Friday by Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, the member representing the Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in Ibadan.

While revealing that the Bill was sponsored on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Akande-Sadipe explained that the bill tagged, A Bill for an Act To Amend The Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (Establishment, Etc) Act, 2021 and other Related Matters was necessary to look into increasing the number of years JAMB results will be valid for.

Akande-Sadipe, who chairs the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs hinted that the proposed amendment will make JAMB function better.

The lawmaker noted that the yearly examination is great and has been able to determine applicants who are prepared for the rigorous task of studying in the tertiary environment but having a year valid score has been cumbersome, distorting, and worrisome to the average Nigerian.

"Most examinations meant for entrance for academics or otherwise are generally more than a year. Take a look at IELTS, SATS, GRE, and other recognised exams, they are either valid for three or four years and they have remained one of the best after being able to stand the test of time.

"The Bill seeks to increase the validity of the results of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) from one (1) year to three (3) years, " she said.

The lawmaker who noted that with the bill becoming law, candidates could be admitted into the university three years after sitting for UTME added that this will save many Nigerians the cost of purchasing UTME forms every year.

She gave reasons for the extension of score validity beyond one academic year.

"It is to minimise the cost of running the examination, to allow candidates to plan, project and decide on which of the institutions to study, to allow candidates to determine what to study and it was after seeing his/her strength and weaknesses, to minimise the logistical need for conducting the examination, to reduce uncertainties surrounding applications and admissions and also to drastically reduce the number of applicants yearly without reducing the quality of the examination.

She said: “It is our job to legislate; make laws that will ease the sufferings of Nigerians. On the floor, I identified a major area that we need to look into in amending the act establishing JAMB.