The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has raised concerns over examination charges, technical challenges and access to tertiary education during a meeting with officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
At the session, Senator Amos Yohanna (PDP/Adamawa North) criticised what he described as increasing financial pressure on students and their families, especially amid prevailing economic hardship.
Yohanna questioned the rationale behind the fees charged by JAMB, noting that many households are grappling with poverty and struggling to afford the cost of registration and other related charges.
Lawmakers also drew attention to recent technical glitches experienced by candidates attempting to access JAMB’s portal. They called on the board to outline steps being taken to address system failures and ensure a smoother, more user-friendly registration and admission process for prospective students, particularly those in rural communities.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mohammed Dandutse (APC/Katsina South), urged JAMB to strengthen coordination within the tertiary admission system. He noted that many students face recurring challenges each year in securing admission into universities and other higher institutions due to what he described as a lack of synergy among relevant stakeholders.
The committee emphasised the need for reforms that would ease access to higher education, reduce financial strain on candidates and improve the overall efficiency of the admission process nationwide.
