KEY POINTS
- On this, NUC replied stating that any person can appeal for university admission but the decision remains in the realm of the institution.
- Senator Nwoye rewrote a statement to state that his letter to UNIABUJA was a request not a demand.
- There is much on merit, and discretion in giving admission to university concerning criticisms from the public.
The House also accused the National Universities Commission (NUC) of being party to this act after the senator of the Anambra North senatorial district, Tony Nwoye, appealed to the University of Abuja to provide admission placement for five students from his constituency.
NUC: appeals are within the rules
According to the NUC’s spokesperson, Haruna Ajo, anyone, including a senator, can request for admission on behalf of students provided an institution but final decisions rest with the university.
If the student deserves the admission and qualifying for the needs of the university then the university can consider. There are minimal chances a candidate can be admitted if he or she does not meet the requirements, Ajo stressed.
The furore ensued when it was disclosed that most of the students whom Senator Nwoye was arguing for got below 200 in the Joint Admission and Matriculations Examination (JAMB) setting off debate on fairness in admission.
Senator Nwoye: it was a passionate appeal not a demand
In the letter to Vice-Chancellor of UNIABUJA written by Senator Nwoye entitled “Passionate Appeal for Admission”, he has written passionately to the VC for the applicants in terms of their representative as the applicants’ representative.
When pressed, Nwoye elaborated his reasons and said, “My appeal is not a plea.” The choice is up to the university concerned. These students as I said were able to make it to the list of discretionary list having met the minimum requirements as I do not regret having made this appeal.
To elaborate his assertion, the senator pointed out that he had no acquaintance with the students and made the appeal, as his Constituents demanded.
Public criticism
The action of the senator has brought the issue of merit and fellowship placements back to the front burner in Nigerian universities.
Some opponents of discretionary admissions suggest that they compromise meritocracy, while others stress that elected officials should defend citizens’ interests.
For its part, UNIABUJA has yet to make any public response to the appeal, and the episode remains typical for the discussion of the problem- transparency and fairness of Nigeria’s tertiary education.
