‘We’re backed by law to regulate admissions’ — JAMB replies UniAbuja

BY OLUSOLA OLUDIRAN

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has hit back at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) for saying that the board lacks the power to regulate admissions of new students into universities.

JAMB had last week called out the institution for flouting provisions of its central admissions processing system (CAPS) introduced to ensure transparency in the admission process.

UniAbuja, however, tackled JAMB while dismissing claims of offering illegal admission.

The varsity noted that it has the power to handle its admission process without interference from external bodies.

It also alleged attempts by the board to take over the admission roles from tertiary institutions.

But on Tuesday, Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s registrar, tackled UniAbuja for not admitting to violating the stipulated admission process.

The registrar spoke when he appeared on ‘Good Morning Nigeria‘, a daily breakfast show on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

Oloyede said the board has been acting based on what the law empowers it to do, noting that the university is only finding it difficult to agree to the sanctions.

“The law empowers us to do what we are doing, and that was the first time since I assume office that I would hear any institutions talking of usurpation,” he said.

“What is happening is that, when somebody does what is wrong and you apply the sanctions, you don’t expect the person to just raise his hands because the laws are so clear.

“I do not need to discuss this, the decisions are taken, the minister must then be usurping power because the minister is the one who presided over the policy meeting and immediately (not less than two weeks after the policy meeting), the decisions were communicated to every vice-chancellor.

“So somebody wants to say something, it is just to create a defence, but the laws are clear and if there was no need for the establishment of JAMB it would not have been created.”