FG Intervenes In JAMB Cut-Off Mark Controversy

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28, (THEWILL) – The federal government has intervened in the controversy surrounding admission into Nigerian universities, directing candidates who made cut-off marks to proceed to the institutions of their first and second choices to write the post-University Matriculation Examinations (UME).

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. MacJohn ‎Nwaobiala, disclosed this to state house correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on activities of the Ministry of Education.

According to him, the matter is being resolved as consultations are on to see where adjustments can be made.

On the meeting with President Buhari, the Permanent Secretary said the Buhari expressed concern over the persistent delay in the payment of teachers’ salaries by some state governments.

‎Nwaobiala, who led the ministry's delegation to the briefing, said the President was “pained” by the plight of the teachers, some of who were owed up to 12 month in unpaid salaries.

‎He said the President also frowned at the low rating of Nigerian universities among their peers around the World.

The Permanent Secretary, however, told the president that some of the ratings were misinterpreted ‎as the rating of Nigerian universities had been‎ improving.

He said the Ministry's main priority for now, was to return school children, displaced by terrorist activities in the country, back to schools as well as getting more enrolment of children into schools.