The federal government has begun implementation of the recommendations of the investigative panel it set up on January 9, 2024, to investigate phoney universities selling fake educational credentials to Nigerians.
The 12-member investigative panel, which was chaired by the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, Prof. Jibrila Amin, had made some far-reaching recommendations in its report submitted to the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Education.
Some key recommendations of the panel, which also had the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Dr. Chris Maiyaki, as a member, were enforcement of quarterly submission of admission lists by institutions after matriculation and the compulsory conduct of admissions by tertiary institutions through the Central Admissions Processing System, CAPS, of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.
In compliance with the panel’s recommendations, the government, through the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has written the institutions, directing them to regularly submit their admission lists to JAMB, not more than three months after matriculation.
Prof. Mamman, in a circular dated July 15, 2024, directed JAMB to enforce the recommendations.
The circular reads in part, “You may recall that following the publication of allegations of certificate racketeering involving some foreign institutions, especially in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and other countries, the ministry constituted an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the allegations to find lasting solutions.
“The committee has submitted its report, and the Honourable Minister of Education has approved its recommendations for implementation.
“In that regard, I hereby convey the request of the honourable minister for the implementation of the following recommendations of the committee:
“Enforce the mandatory requirement for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to exclusively conduct their admissions processes through the Central Admissions Processing System under the auspices of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board; mandate all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies through the dedicated channel of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
“You are kindly requested to implement the above recommendations and furnish the ministry with implementation updates.”
Vanguard
