The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the governing body responsible for coordinating admissions into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, has officially established the National Minimum Tolerable scores for admission. According to the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the minimum scores required for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education are 140, 100, and 100 respectively. This announcement was made during the 2023 Policy Meeting of Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Saturday.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede emphasized that all tertiary institutions must adhere to these minimum score requirements and must not set their admission points below the approved standards. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of maintaining each institution's individual minimum standards, particularly in terms of institutional screening and grading for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). He stressed that the minimum score set for the SSCE should not be lower than 50 marks.
"All institutions must comply with this minimum score requirement. It is imperative that no institution falls below this standard," stated Prof. Oloyede. He specifically addressed the 15 private universities that have previously set their minimum admission points between 120 and 130, emphasizing that the minimum score of 140 is non-negotiable and must not be violated. He warned that the system in place does not recognize scores below 140, and therefore, strict compliance is necessary.
Furthermore, Prof. Oloyede specified that institutions are prohibited from charging candidates more than N2,000 as screening fees. This directive aims to regulate and standardize the screening process across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
