Senate Reduces Cost of UTME, Extends Validity Period

The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution reducing the registration fee of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to N2, 500 from
N5,650 that was paid this year by students.
The resolution was taken following the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on the inquiry into the
new admission policy of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The Senators also recommended for the extension of the validity period of the UTME to three academic year.
They also resolved to amend the Act establishing JAMB to reflect the extension of the validity period
which is at the moment a year.

The Senate also adopted the recommendation of the Committee chaired by Senator Binta Masi Garba
(APC, Adamawa North) that the change of institution, course form and other incidental activities around the exam should be free.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC, Kano Central) said stressed the need for government to look into the revenue being generated by JAMB.

Also yesterday, the Senate condemned the non-payment of allowances of Nigerian students studying abroad who are beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) and other
scholarships of the federal government.
The condemnation was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger East) and seven others.
The Senators also urged the Federal government to take immediate steps to ensure prompt payment of all outstanding allowances of students who under its scholarship scheme abroad.