The federal government has removed its age limit restrictions for candidates taking the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by WAEC and NECO, as well as entry into tertiary institutions.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, during a meeting with the leadership of the Congress of Nigerian University Academics.
The decision followed the public outcry joined by the Concerned Parents and Educators (CPE) in its statement signed by Yinka Ogunde.
Mamman assured that the government is not introducing any new age restriction policies for writing SSCE or for university admissions.
“The university system has become polarized with underage students, which sometimes makes the job more tasking for university workers,” he noted, emphasizing the need to “sanitise and strengthen the system.”
Also addressing the leadership of the academic union, Mamman commended their dedication and reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the pressing issues within the education sector.
“This meeting demonstrates our willingness to engage and resolve challenges in the education sector,” he stated, highlighting the government’s approach to fortifying existing regulations rather than creating new ones.
In response, the union’s leadership outlined several critical challenges affecting universities. These include issues related to withheld salaries of its members, the needs assessment committee, fake certificates, and concerns surrounding the 2014 Pension Act. The dialogue between the minister and the union underscores a mutual commitment to improving the educational landscape in Nigeria.