The Senate has launched an investigation into allegations of admission racketeering in universities across the country.
The senate specifically mentioned alleged lingering cases of undisclosed admissions that has left the fate of about 290 qualified students hanging in the balance at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State.
In a motion moved by the senator representing Ebonyi North, Onyeka Nwebonyi, during Wednesday’s plenary, the upper legislative chamber asked its relevant committees to summon the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, and the Vice-Chancellor, UNN, Prof. Charles Igwe.
Nwebonyi, in his motion, alleged that the university staff members conspired with JAMB officials to carry out unwholesome practices for financial gains.
JAMB is a statutory body charged with conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for admissions to all Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.
He pointed out that such unwholesome practices put the country’s educational system in jeopardy, and cause apathy on the side of ordinary Nigerians.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, stressed the need to give a fair hearing to the accused parties, saying JAMB and UNN were known to be reputable institutions.
The Senate, after an extensive debate on the practice, therefore, resolved to investigate the allegation by referring the motion to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND as well as Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further legislative action.
