Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities

The Lagos State Government has announced that candidates who score below 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not be admitted into any of the state-owned universities, despite the lower benchmark approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed this on Wednesday during a ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa to mark the third anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Sule rejected JAMB’s approved minimum cut-off mark of 150 for university admissions, describing it as too low for institutions owned by Lagos State.

“To us in Lagos State, the cut-off marks approved by JAMB look too low for our universities. None of our three universities is admitting any student who scored below 185 in the UTME,” the commissioner stated.

He argued that Lagos State could not afford to lower its educational standards to align with states classified as educationally disadvantaged.

“For JAMB to announce 150 as the cut-off mark out of the 400 obtainable marks in the UTME for this year’s admission seekers is very low. Lagos cannot be considered educationally disadvantaged to the extent of bringing its cut-off mark down to meet what Sokoto or Zamfara states require,” Sule added.

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The development comes after JAMB and heads of tertiary institutions approved 150 as the minimum benchmark for university admissions during the 2026 policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

However, under Nigeria’s admission system, universities retain the right to set higher cut-off marks depending on competitiveness, available spaces and institutional standards.

Lagos State currently operates three major universities: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).

According to Sule, the expansion from one state university to three was part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s broader strategy to improve access to higher education while maintaining quality.

“Increasing our universities from one to three is still part of what the governor is doing to provide more educational platforms and opportunities for Lagos residents,” he said.

“And increasing the number to four is still part of this effort by the state government to give all admission seekers the opportunity to get tertiary education in Lagos.”

The commissioner also revealed that the Lagos State Government was already working with the Ministry of Health on legislation to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences in the state.

If established, the proposed institution would become the fourth state-owned university in Lagos and is expected to strengthen medical education, healthcare research and manpower development in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Sule stressed that the state government would continue investing heavily in education infrastructure, academic staffing and improved access to tertiary education without compromising standards.

Education stakeholders say Lagos State’s decision may increase competition among candidates seeking admission into its institutions, particularly LASU, which remains one of Nigeria’s most sought-after public universities.

The announcement also comes amid concerns over the performance of candidates in recent UTME examinations.

Recent statistics released by JAMB showed that a significant percentage of candidates scored below 200 in the last UTME exercise, sparking nationwide debate over declining academic performance and admission standards.

Despite criticism from some stakeholders, JAMB has maintained that the 150 benchmark merely represents the minimum national requirement and does not prevent universities from adopting higher standards.

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities

WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reassured candidates, parents, school owners, and other stakeholders that the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will continue smoothly despite the ongoing nationwide protest by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

The assurance came amid growing concerns over a three-day industrial action embarked upon by NASU members across WAEC offices nationwide over allegations of management high-handedness, illegal recruitment practices, welfare concerns, and controversial pay policies.

The protest, which began on Wednesday at WAEC’s national headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, reportedly spread to several regional and state offices across the country, raising fears about possible disruptions to the ongoing examinations.

However, WAEC, in a statement signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs for the Head of National Office, Moyosola F. Adesina, said the Council had already activated contingency plans to ensure that the 2026 WASSCE proceeds without interruption.

According to the examination body, discussions are currently ongoing with the aggrieved workers to address the issues raised by the union.

“While we are concerned about the rights of unions and staff to express their grievances, we are also committed to ensuring seamless and smooth conduct of the ongoing examination,” the statement read.

WAEC explained that some of the issues raised by NASU had either been misunderstood or misrepresented.

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The Council clarified that the recent adjustment in examination days was a direct consequence of the streamlining of WAEC subjects from 76 to 38, as well as the adoption of a hybrid mode of examination conduct.

It also dismissed allegations of arbitrary dismissals and punitive sanctions against workers, insisting that all disciplinary and career progression matters are handled strictly in line with the provisions of the WAEC Staff Handbook and relevant statutory regulations.

On the controversial recruitment of contract staff, WAEC said the engagement of contract Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers was introduced to help manage increasing workloads and improve operational efficiency across the sub-region.

“The engagement of contract staff is a strategic operational measure aimed at enhancing efficiency and ensuring the seamless conduct of the Council’s processes,” WAEC stated.

The Council further urged members of the public to disregard rumours and misinformation capable of creating panic among candidates and parents.

WAEC assured Nigerians that the integrity, credibility, and smooth conduct of the examination remain its top priority.

The Council also reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to delivering reliable educational assessments to students across Nigeria and other member countries, noting that it has sustained that mandate for over 74 years.

Meanwhile, NASU insisted that the protest would continue following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to WAEC management.

In a letter signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the union accused the management of unilateral decision-making, breach of seniority principles, suspension of staff upgrade programmes, and imposition of a minimum net pay policy without proper consultation.

The union also faulted the constitution of investigative panels without union involvement and expressed concerns over recent changes to the structure of the WASSCE examination.

NASU disclosed that its branches nationwide unanimously agreed during an online meeting to proceed with the industrial action after negotiations with management allegedly failed to produce satisfactory outcomes.

The union warned that the protest could be escalated if the management fails to address its demands.

Despite the labour dispute, WAEC maintained that the ongoing 2026 WASSCE remains stable and uninterrupted nationwide.

The Council disclosed that nearly two million candidates from more than 24,000 secondary schools are currently participating in the examination across Nigeria.

WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

Edo Varsity Suspends 27 Medical Students Over Exam Fraud

The management of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved the rustication of 27 medical students over allegations of examination misconduct and impersonation in the institution’s College of Medicine.

The affected students, drawn from the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Anatomy, and Human Physiology, are in the 300, 400, and 500 levels.

The university stated that the disciplinary action will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, with the students handed rustication periods ranging from two to four semesters, depending on the severity of their offences.

The decision followed recommendations from the Mobile Disciplinary Committee of the College of Medicine for the 2024/2025 academic session, which investigated cases of alleged examination malpractice and impersonation during professional examinations.

The Registrar of the university, Mrs. Oluwayomi Agbebaku, confirmed the development in an official statement released on Wednesday, explaining that the affected students were found culpable of various forms of examination misconduct, including impersonation and other violations of academic regulations.

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She added that the sanctions were necessary to uphold academic integrity, maintain discipline, and preserve the credibility of professional training in the medical field.

The university further stated that the rusticated students will not be allowed to participate in any internal or external examinations until they have fully served their punishment.

It also explained that some of the students face additional academic restrictions, including non-upgrading of certain courses, while the result of at least one student will not be processed until completion of the rustication period.

However, the institution confirmed that one student was cleared of wrongdoing and exonerated after investigations, with his mobile phone returned following a stern warning.

The management of AAU reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice in Nigerian universities, particularly within sensitive professional programmes such as medicine and allied health sciences.

It stressed that it will continue to strengthen monitoring mechanisms during examinations and enforce strict disciplinary actions to deter future cases of impersonation and academic fraud.

The development highlights ongoing concerns about examination malpractice in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where authorities have increasingly adopted strict sanctions to protect the integrity of academic qualifications.

Education stakeholders continue to call for stronger supervision, improved invigilation systems, and stricter enforcement of examination rules to curb recurring cases of cheating and impersonation.

Edo Varsity Suspends 27 Medical Students Over Exam Fraud