National Issues
Opinion: Brouhaha Over 120 Cut Off Point For University Admissions
THE year 2017 policy meeting of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has come and gone with complaints and distasteful reactions. Some reacted based on ignorance while some were deliberately mischievous.
In the first category are persons that had the wrong notion about the approved admission policy. What the policy intends to do is to streamline the admission process rather than to undermine the autonomy of the universities. The policy meeting does not fix a uniform cut-off point for all the universities. What the JAMB did was to allow each institution fix its cut-off point. And once it is communicated to the Board, the concerned institution cannot admit any candidates that score less than the giving cut off point. So, the Board did not in all intents and purposes force any cut off point on institutions in Nigeria.
What the JAMB Registrar announced was the consensus of all the stakeholders including Heads of tertiary institutions, Registrars and even the Admissions Officers of Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Education across the country.
Reasonably, one would expect the cut off point for first generation universities to be different from newly established ones with lesser admission demand. It was this reality that informed the variation in the approved cut-off points and obviously this ranges from 120 to 200 depending on institution’s tone, admission demand and other criteria set by the senate of each university.
If a newly established private university with fewer than a thousand first choice candidates chooses 120 cut-off point, such reality shouldn’t be a basis for subjecting the policy to hasty generalisation. In my own view, JAMB had restored the university autonomy by allowing each institution to fix its cut-off point.
Arising from the same policy meeting is the lifting of the ban on POST UTME.The implication is that institutions can now use each candidate’s aggregate score for admission process. Given the circumstances under which the Honourable Minister For Education lifted the ban on the conduct of POST UTME, it portrays Mallam Adamu Adamu as an intelligent, credible and reasonable educational administrators. The courage and humility he displayed in reversing the ban on POST UTME signals that hope is not totally lost on the future of the nation’s educational system.
What constitutes a candidate’s aggregate score is the summation of candidate’s JAMB score, O’ Level graded score/point and POST UTME score. Obviously, the policy re-direction will help address the challenges of admitting not suitably qualified candidates.
In the second category are those who are being mischievous with their opposition to the outcome of the policy meeting. From media reports, some universities out of pride and by mere dispay of arrogance have created an impression that the policy meeting had introduced a uniform cut off point of 120 for all universities.
Whatever the motive behind this propaganda, my candid opinion is that the institutions that are behind the distorted information are just trying to deliberately spread falsehood or twist the letter and spirit of the laudable policy.The disdain and opposition is however not acceptable as a normal academic culture.
For the avoidance of doubts, what the new cut off point policy is saying is that an institution cannot admit any candidate that scores below the submitted cut off point in all circumstances. In any case, the apprehension that 120 cut off point will cause dramatic fall in the standard of education is a mere wishful thinking so far it does not applies to all universities.
Given the implications of the above background information, the outcry by some universities that they cannot accept any policy that would cause them to lower their standard is baseless and unwarranted. So far, JAMB has not imposed any cut off point on tertiary institutions or attempted to usurp the universities’ autonomy.
While the erroneous impression created by the cynics is clarified, I think Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, the JAMB Registrar deserves commendation for introducing a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) effective from 2017 admissions. Truly, CAPS as a technological innovation would not just eliminate multiple cases of admission, it will create market place to enable institutions source candidates from the pool based on various criteria such as JAMB score, state of origin, gender and specialisations. One other advantage of CAPS is that admissions can be processed in batches as well as instantaneously with candidates being able to check and track their admission status at any point in time on the JAMB portal. The innovation is not only plausible, it is equally going to be an enduring legacy of the current JAMB Registrar.
However, the 2017/2018 admission exercise will be conducted on dual mode such that the current manual system will run in parallel with the implementation of CAPS with the intention of full transmission in the immediate future.
It is hoped that the mischief makers would take time to study and understand the merit and workings of the innovative strategies introduced by JAMB for a more credible admission process in the country before unnecessary criticism of the new policy. Again, the JAMB Registrar needs to create more awareness on rationale behind the new approach to cut off system and further intensify efforts on sensitisation of stakeholders, students and parents on short and long term benefits of the new policy.
By Rahaman Onike
Writes from Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Oyo State.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. The latest figures were disclosed in a report released by the NBS on Tuesday, marking an uptick from the 5.0 per cent recorded in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023.
According to the NBS, the unemployment rate for males stood at 4.3 per cent, while females experienced a higher rate of 6.2 per cent during the same period. The report also highlighted disparities based on location, with urban areas recording a 6.0 per cent unemployment rate compared to 4.3 per cent in rural areas for Q1 2024.
“The unemployment rate for Q1 2024 was 5.3%, showing an increase from 5.0% recorded in Q3 2023,” the bureau stated in its report. The NBS defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of the labour force, including both employed and unemployed individuals, who are not working but are actively seeking employment.
Youth Unemployment Rate Declines
In a positive development, the report indicated a slight drop in youth unemployment, which fell to 8.4 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This figure represents the unemployment rate among Nigeria’s young people, a demographic that often faces unique employment challenges.
Educational Attainment and Unemployment
The report further provided insights into unemployment rates based on educational attainment. Individuals with postgraduate education recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 per cent, while those with post-secondary education faced a rate of 9.0 per cent. For people with secondary education, the rate stood at 6.9 per cent, and those with only primary education recorded a 4.0 per cent unemployment rate.
Employment-to-Population Ratio Falls to 73.2%
In addition to the unemployment data, the NBS also reported a decline in Nigeria’s employment-to-population ratio, a critical indicator of workforce participation. The ratio dropped to 73.2 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 75.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This ratio represents the percentage of the working-age population that is employed.
Breaking the data down by gender, the employment-to-population ratio for males was 74.2 per cent, while it was 72.3 per cent for females. By place of residence, urban areas had an employment-to-population ratio of 69.5 per cent, while rural areas recorded 78.9 per cent in Q1 2024, compared to 71.1 per cent and 80.7 per cent in Q3 2023, respectively.
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