The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to suspend the planned use of the National Identity Number (NIN) in the registration of candidates for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The call was necessitated by the need to carry out adequate sensitization, as well as for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to create more registration centres, especially in the nation’s remote localities for easier access.
The call was fallout of a motion sponsored by Hon. Zainab Gimba, who argued that the planned use of the NIN as generated by NIMC for the registration of candidates appeared too sudden, and may lead to denial of several Nigerians the opportunity to seek admissions into tertiary institutions.
In her opinion, JAMB should delay implementation of the policy until 2021, in order to allow more time and better awareness for prospective candidates. “Younger Nigerians and minors constitute the larger number of those yet to be captured by NIMC mainly due to the prior registration criteria which captured only persons aged 18 and above”, she argued.
The lawmaker said “registration for the 2020 UTME is billed to commence in December 2019 and examinations to commence March 20th, 2020. This means intending candidates have between November and January (three months) to register with NIMC, and subsequently get registered for the UTME”, a period she said was too short.
The House in its resolution therefore mandated its committee on tertiary education and services, and the NIMC to identify challenges in capturing Nigerians, with a view to tackling same, including increased funding if necessary.
