Court Declares Post-UTME Tests Illegal In Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions

A Federal High Court, Abuja has declared the Post- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) conducted by universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria as illegal.

The Guardian Newspaper quoted the court as saying on Friday that there was no extant law authorising the exercise.

The court further ruled that only the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) could conduct matriculation examinations and give admissions into tertiary institutions by virtue of section 5 (1) (2) of the JAMB Act.

In the judgment, delivered in the suit filed by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) against JAMB, the Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), Justice John Tsoho said that the defendants have no power to allow or direct tertiary institutions to conduct further screening of candidates after they had taken the UTME.

In 2017, JAMB had fixed a maximum cost for post-UTMEs across tertiary institutions.

The court however issued a perpetual injunction restraining all tertiary institutions in the country from conducting the Post-UTME or any other form of admission screening tests.

In opposing the suit, JAMB had argued that LEDAP had no locus standi to bring the action, but the court rejected the objection and held that a registered non-governmental organisation or an activist lawyer is allowed by law to pursue in court, the right of the largely ignorant members of the society.

LEDAP had submitted that Section 5 (1) (2) of the JAMB Act provides that the body should conduct matriculation examinations for admissions into all tertiary institutions after the UTME.

Subsection (2) (3) provides: “JAMB shall be responsible for determining matriculation requirements and conducting examinations leading to undergraduate admissions and also for admission to National Diploma and the Nigerian Certificate in Education courses.”

The plaintiff had submitted the suit since 2005 noting that tertiary institutions nationwide have been illegally conducting tests and screening candidates seeking admission in violation of section 5 (10) (2) of the JAMB Act.

The court agreed with the plaintiff and said the defendants have the responsibility to ensure compliance with the JAMB Act.

The court also said the imposition of the post-UTME on candidates seeking admission was illegal and unlawful.

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