The Senate has clarified that the minimum age requirement for admission to tertiary institutions in Nigeria remains 16 years and has not been changed to 18 years.
This statement comes in response to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, comments about increasing the age limit. The Chairman of, the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday.
The Senate clarified that discussions about raising the age limit to 18 years for entry into tertiary institutions were personal opinions and not official decisions. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, said that any changes to the age limit would require proper legislative processes.
The Minister of Education had suggested the need to review the minimum entry age to allow students to mature adequately for university education. While some lawmakers expressed support for this idea, the Senate spokesperson highlighted that it was not a law yet and would need thorough discussions involving various stakeholders before any formal action is taken.
The Senate also refuted claims that the Minister had directed JAMB not to release results for applicants under 18 years, stating that such conditions were not part of the initial application process. The issue remains a matter of discussion and would need to go through the legislative procedures before becoming law.
