The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have rejected the recent decision by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Federal Government to fix 150 as the admission cutoff mark for universities.
According to ASUU, the benchmarks are illegal. JAMB cannot set entrance age criteria or cut-off marks for tertiary institutions.
The federal government’s reaffirmation of 16 years as the minimum age for admission to tertiary institutions has received strong support from key education stakeholders such as the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and others.
While they praised the policy to restore academic discipline, they also expressed concern over ongoing systemic policy infractions.
However, the revelation of a minimal cut-off mark of 150 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education has caused significant criticism, with many fearing that it will further undermine standards in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Speaking in an interview, ASUU president, Professor Chris Piwuna, expressed strong disapproval, calling the gathering “an illegal meeting” and warning that it undermines the authority of university senates.
“I am shocked that some vice chancellors, who are chairmen of their respective university senates, would attend such a meeting and, by doing so, subject their institutions to the authority of JAMB.
“This act differs from the principle of university autonomy and the core issues we are renegotiating with the federal government,” he said.
“Our union has not taken an official position on the issue of minimum age for university entry. But let it be clear, it is not JAMB’s role to determine that. Each university senate is empowered by law to decide on admissions and other academic matters,” he added.
Also, ASUP has opposed the new admission cut-off marks approved by JAMB, describing them as a threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Speaking on the issue in an interview, the president of the Union, Comrade Shammah S. Kpanja, said, “Honestly speaking, fixing the JAMB examination cut-off points to 150 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education is counterproductive.
“As you know, JAMB’s total score is 400. By this standard, a candidate only needs 37.5% to gain admission into a university and just 25% to enter a polytechnic or college of education. Undoubtedly, this will contribute greatly to lowering academic standards,” he said.
In response to the news, Dr Smart Olugbeko, National President of COEASU, praised the federal government’s stance on the 16-year-age ban but expressed deeper worries about widespread infractions that have rendered the rule ineffectual over time.
“This is not a new policy. The issue is that it has been consistently violated due to noncompliance by institutions. But we’ve failed to address the root cause: when should children begin formal schooling?”
He mentioned that several private institutions have eliminated primary six, allowing students to start secondary school as early as primary 3 or 4. He stated that as a result, underage pupils complete secondary education and apply for university entrance before the age of 16.
“The government just added a policy today, and the minister announced that the admission age is 16 years old. Yes, that is not a new statement. It is not something new. That has always been like that,” he said.
However, while COEASU supports the federal government’s enforcement of the age limit, the union is firmly opposed to the recently established cut-off marks.
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) acknowledged the potential benefits of increased access and advocated for a balance between inclusivity and academic standards.
NANS‘ National Public Relations Officer, Samson Ajasa Adeyemi, stated that while the 16-year age limit is reasonable, the true difficulty is implementation.
Their views come after the 2025 JAMB policy meeting in Abuja, when the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in conjunction with education stakeholders, agreed on the minimum criteria for the new admission cycle.
At the conference, stakeholders agreed that the minimum cut-off for admission to Nigerian universities would be 150.
The baseline for polytechnics and colleges of education is 100, whereas colleges of nursing sciences will admit students with a minimum score of 140.
The meeting was led by Dr Maruf Alausa, Minister of Education, and attended by vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and leaders of regulatory bodies.
The cut-off marks serve as national benchmarks, but individual institutions maintain the ability to set higher thresholds based on the competitiveness of their programmes.
At the ceremony, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede stressed that, while these are basic qualifications, no institution can admit candidates who do not meet the agreed-upon benchmarks.
He also stated that the policy ensures justice, access, and excellence across higher education.
“This policy reflects the reality of our education system and the need to align admission processes with merit, equity, and capacity,” he stated.
The meeting also reaffirmed that institutional autonomy in admissions is still intact, but it must be exercised within the context of national standards.
Institutions are expected to complete admissions according to the approved calendar and report their activities to JAMB for central processing.
