UTME: Reps Order JAMB to Register Candidates without NIN

House of Representatives have urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to postpone the use of National Identity Number (NIN) for the registration of prospective candidates till 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This motion was sponsored on Wednesday 13th November, 2019 by Zainab Gimba under Matters of Urgent National Importance.

The lawmaker faulted the decision of JAMB to use the data of prospective candidates for the 2020 UTME to register them for the exams.

“The compulsory use of prospective candidates’ data from the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) database will dispense with the need for JAMB to capture the biometrics of candidates, thereby helping to curb incidents of multiple registration and other forms of malpractices perpetrated in the UTME process,” she said.

The sponsor of the motion was worried that many prospective candidates from remote locations in the country might not be able to register for the UTME due to non-registration with the NIMC.

“Also, the notice given by JAMB is too sudden and not sufficient to allow all prospective UTME candidates to be captured by the NIMC,” Gimba said.

When Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila called for a voice vote, the motion was passed without dissent.

The Green Chamber also urged NIMC to establish more registration centres to accommodate “the growing number of prospective candidates for the UTME.

The lawmakers also advised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to synergize with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for a more transparent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination process.

The motion has been sent to the House Committee on Tertiary Education & Services for treatment.