Senate to probe alleged admission racketeering in universities

The Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate allegations of admission racketeering in universities across the country.

The resolution of the Red Chamber was a result of a motion titled “Urgent Need to Curtail the Practice of Undisclosed Admissions and Other Unwholesome Practices by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB),” sponsored by Senator Onyeka Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North.

Presenting his motion, Senator Nwebonyi alleged that unscrupulous university staff, in connivance with JAMB officials, are involved in trading admission in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions.

He further alleged that authorities of tertiary institutions are embroiled in the unwholesome practice of hawking admission into courses such as Medicine, Surgery, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, and Nursing Science, with the aim of shortchanging some students who have already been offered admission in exchange for gratification.

He stated, “The travails of Miss Chinyere Ekwe and 290 others, who were admitted to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) but had their admissions truncated on the order of JAMB for no plausible reason, after they had completed the admission processes and resumed lectures.

“Miss Ekwe, in particular, scored 291 in the 2019 UTME and 300 in the university’s post UTME, which qualified her for the course and the university subsequently admitted her.

“The said Chinyere Ekwe was transferred to the Department of Medical Laboratory Science because if her cumulative grade point is up to 4.5 points after the first year, she would be transferred back to Medicine and Surgery.

“However, despite surpassing the 4.5 threshold, her admission status is still not certain as to whether she is duly admitted in the Department of Medicine and Surgery or Medical Laboratory Science.

“The provisional admission practice is being used as a malicious tool to exploit and frustrate intelligent young Nigerians who are children and wards of ordinary people seeking admission into Nigerian universities.”

He expressed concern that the nefarious activities of JAMB and university staff could discourage brilliant students whose parents are not wealthy Nigerians.

In his closing remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio called for caution and emphasized that the accused parties should be given a fair hearing.

He said, “We are shaving the head of a man behind his back. The University of Nigeria has a reputation that spans decades and is respected internationally. JAMB also has its own reputation.

“So discussing and particularizing it could tend to give the international community the impression that something is questionable about the certificate from the University of Nigeria, which we all respect. It has given birth to so many universities, including the one I went to, which is the University of Calabar.

“Let the other side be heard, so that we can do a holistic job and even invite the Minister of Education to find out whether this kind of practice is occurring in tertiary institutions. So let us do a holistic job. I think it is important we correct any wrong that we see.”

The Red Chamber mandated its Committees on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND as well as Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions to probe the allegations of admission fraud.

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