The University of Abuja has affirmed its constitutional rights on admissions into the institution saying only universities, not any external body, is guaranteed the power of admissions.
The University of Abuja also said that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, lacks constitutional powers to meddle in admissions into universities.
This was as the university refuted last week’s allegations by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which stated that it was engaging in “Illegal admissions”, outside the constitutional provisions.
Quoting the relevant constitutional provisions guiding the operations of the nation’s university education system, the University of Abuja, in a statement by its Head, information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, insisted that it was not out of place for it to conduct admissions without the input of JAMB.
According to the statement, “The Universities Miscellaneous Provisions, (Amendment) Act 2003 7a (ii) states that The Senate shall have powers in all academic matters including the organization and control, teaching and research, admission of students…”
“What this means is that the university, not any external body, is guaranteed the power of admissions,” the statement read in part.
The statement tagged: ”The University of Abuja is not engaged in illegal admissions” read in full:” The University of Abuja has been constrained to respond to recent reports in the media that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has named the University, among others (curiously unmentioned), as being engaged in “illegal admissions” exercise because it failed to upload the list of its admission on Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
“University of Abuja wishes to categorically and emphatically state that it has not conducted any illegal admissions, and has nothing to hide as far as its admission exercise is concerned”
“It makes bold to state that, at the moment, the University has one of the best and most transparent systems of admission in the country” it added.
“This, indeed, is the only federal university which catchment area is the whole of Nigeria, and truly and practically admits from all states of the country, while simultaneously upholding the principle of merit and excellence! ” the statement added.
PIAK
