Education
ASUU, ASUP disagree with JAMB on cut-off marks for varsities, polytechnics
ASUU, ASUP disagree with JAMB on cut-off marks for varsities, polytechnics
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) to fix 150 as the admission cut-off mark for universities.
ASUU described the benchmark as illegal, adding that JAMB could not 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) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
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.
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“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 were basic qualifications, no institution could admit candidates not meeting 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 was 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.
Education
LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH Shut as ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike
LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH Shut as ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike
Students at three Lagos State-owned universities are facing an indefinite interruption of academic activities after ASUU declared a strike over unresolved demands.
LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH are affected by the industrial action announced by the union’s Joint Campus Group.
ASUU said it had given the Lagos State Government 14 days from August 31 to address its concerns. According to the union, the deadline expired without a concrete plan or meaningful dialogue.
The union had also issued a final warning on September 10, but said the September 13 deadline passed without talks.
Its main demand is for Lagos State to domesticate and implement the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement across the three institutions.
ASUU also wants the implementation of welfare provisions, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for serving and retired academic staff.
The union said the strike would continue until negotiations produce a satisfactory outcome. It also urged students and parents to remain calm.
While the dispute has led to a fresh shutdown in Lagos, another ASUU branch has suspended its strike in Plateau State.
The Plateau State University branch reached an agreement with the state government on issues including the 2025 agreement, outstanding arrears, staff accommodation and other demands. Members are expected to return to academic activities from midnight on September 16.
Meanwhile, ASUU at Taraba State University has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Taraba State Government. The notice runs from September 14 to September 28 and concerns outstanding provisions of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH Shut as ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike
Education
ASUU Crisis Deepens: Lagos Universities Join UNIBEN, Taraba on Indefinite Strike
ASUU Crisis Deepens: Lagos Universities Join UNIBEN, Taraba on Indefinite Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has not declared a nationwide indefinite strike. However, the union’s national leadership has issued a fresh threat to resume its suspended national strike without notice, while at least three university branches are currently on indefinite strike over unresolved welfare disputes with state governments.
The confusion stems from a wave of branch-level industrial actions that began in early September 2026, combined with an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) resolution warning that a nationwide shutdown could be activated “within the shortest time possible” if governments fail to honour the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
The ASUU branches at the three Lagos State-owned universities declared a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike on September 15, 2026, after the state government allowed a 14-day ultimatum to lapse without initiating dialogue. The unions’ principal demand is the full domestication and implementation of the December 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and critical welfare protections for both active and retired academic staff. The strike has the full backing of the ASUU national leadership, and the union stated it will not be suspended until the state government signs, domesticates, and implements the applicable provisions of the agreement in full.
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The UNIBEN ASUU branch is continuing its indefinite strike, which began on September 9, 2026, over the alleged underpayment of August 2026 salaries. A congress held on September 11 resolved that the strike would continue because the university administration failed to provide clear details of what was paid, what was outstanding, and when it would be paid. University management insists the Federal Government paid August salaries in full, and that the payment in question was CATA, not salary.
ASUU at Taraba State University resumed an indefinite strike following the state government’s failure to implement an agreement reached on January 17, 2025. On September 14, the branch issued a final 14-day ultimatum to the Taraba State Government, which will expire on September 28, 2026, if outstanding provisions are not addressed. The union had previously suspended a planned strike in August to allow the university’s combined convocation ceremonies to proceed.
The UNIZIK ASUU branch suspended its indefinite strike on September 11, 2026, after the university management paid the complete August 2026 salary. The strike had been declared on September 7 over the non-payment of full August salaries. The branch directed all members to resume academic and administrative duties immediately.
At the national level, ASUU has threatened to reactivate its suspended nationwide strike if the Federal Government and state governments fail to urgently resolve outstanding issues. This decision followed an emergency NEC meeting held at the University of Abuja on September 5, 2026. ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, stated that unless immediate and concrete steps are taken, the union “will not accept any blame for calling out its members on a nationwide strike action within the shortest time possible”. The unresolved issues include three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries from the seven-and-a-half months withheld under the previous administration, unremitted third-party deductions (pension contributions, cooperative funds, and ASUU check-off dues) allegedly withheld for several months, breaches of university laws and autonomy, and the worsening conditions of the academic profession.
ASUU commended governors who had commenced implementation of the 2025 agreement, singling out Abia State Governor Alex Otti for praise, noting he publicly announced full adoption and apologised for bureaucratic delays. The union also listed Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina, and Borno as states where implementation had commenced. It noted pledges to begin in Kano, Edo, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe, and Bayelsa in September or October 2026.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for savings from petrol subsidy removal, arguing that the renewed university crisis exposed a contradiction in the government’s reform claims. Atiku said Nigerians had endured unprecedented cost-of-living increases while public universities remained underfunded and lecturers were again threatening to strike.
ASUU Crisis Deepens: Lagos Universities Join UNIBEN, Taraba on Indefinite Strike
Education
JAMB Moves 2027 UTME Time — Here’s What Candidates Need To Know
JAMB Moves 2027 UTME Time — Here’s What Candidates Need To Know
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adjusted the schedule for the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), moving the arrival time for candidates from 6:30am to 7:30am.
Under the revised arrangement, candidates taking part in the first session will be expected to arrive at their designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:30am, while the examination will commence at 8:30am and end at 10:30am.
JAMB said the adjustment was introduced in response to concerns over the safety and convenience of UTME candidates, particularly those who travel long distances to their assigned examination centres.
The Board said the earlier 6:30am arrival requirement could force some candidates to embark on their journeys before dawn, exposing them to avoidable transportation and security risks.
The decision to move the arrival time was reached during JAMB’s 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat, held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, from September 6 to 11.
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The retreat brought together JAMB management, state coordinators, heads of outstation offices and other relevant officials to review the Board’s operations and consider measures for improving the conduct of future examinations.
According to the Board, concerns had been raised about the safety implications of requiring candidates to report at examination centres as early as 6:30am, especially where candidates have to travel considerable distances.
JAMB said the one-hour adjustment would allow candidates more time to travel to their centres during daylight and could also reduce the pressure associated with early-morning transportation.
The Board also indicated that the adjustment could help reduce UTME absenteeism, as some candidates who encounter transportation difficulties or live far from their assigned centres may find it easier to arrive under the revised arrangement.
The new 7:30am reporting time applies to the first UTME session, with the examination itself scheduled to begin at 8:30am.
JAMB said other sessions would continue according to the examination schedule to be released as part of the preparations for the 2027 exercise.
The latest decision is part of broader efforts by the examination body to improve the safety, efficiency and overall experience of candidates sitting the annual university entrance examination.
JAMB has increasingly placed emphasis on the need to make its examination processes more efficient while addressing logistical challenges associated with the movement of millions of candidates across the country.
The 2027 UTME is expected to involve candidates from across Nigeria and other countries where Nigerian candidates are permitted to sit for the examination.
The adjustment will be particularly significant for candidates who are assigned to CBT centres outside their immediate communities, as the later arrival time gives them an additional hour to complete their journeys before reporting for accreditation and other pre-examination procedures.
Candidates are, however, expected to follow the specific instructions contained in their examination slips and other official communications from JAMB once the full examination schedule is released.
The Board is expected to provide further information on 2027 UTME registration, examination dates, registration centres, approved CBT centres, candidate requirements and session allocations as preparations progress.
Prospective candidates have also been advised to rely on official JAMB announcements and avoid unverified schedules circulated on social media or other unofficial platforms.
The latest change does not mean that candidates should arrive late at their assigned centres. Those scheduled for the first session will still be expected to report by 7:30am to allow sufficient time for verification and other procedures before the examination begins at 8:30am.
JAMB’s decision is therefore expected to provide some relief to candidates and families concerned about the risks associated with very early-morning travel, while helping the Board maintain an orderly start to the 2027 UTME.
JAMB Moves 2027 UTME Time — Here’s What Candidates Need To Know
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