The Nigerian Senate clarified that recent statements suggesting a potential increase in the age limit to 18 years for applicants seeking admission into the university were individual viewpoints. He emphasized that such adjustments would necessitate proper legislative procedures.
Adeyemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, conveyed this message during an interview with journalists on Wednesday. He pointed out the importance of adhering to established legislative processes, whether the changes involve lowering or raising the age limit.
Adaramodu’s remarks came in response to recent speculation regarding a potential increase in the age limit. The Senate reiterated that any adjustments to the age limit would require thorough consideration and debate within the legislative framework. This statement aims to dispel any confusion and reaffirm the Senate’s commitment to upholding proper legislative procedures in addressing such matters.
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The clarification from the Senate serves to assure the public that the decision regarding the age limit for admissions into tertiary institutions is not a mere pronouncement by an individual. It has to be made through transparent and democratic processes.
The Senate stresses “the need for legislative procedures to maintain accountability and ensure that any proposed changes to the age limit are thoroughly scrutinized and debated before implementation.”
Senate’s clarification is a response to the statement made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, that the government is thinking about changing the minimum age for candidates seeking admission into universities to 18 years.
Adaramodu sai, “Comment on the minimum age requirement for admission is not a law.
“It is just an opinion. It’s not a law. By the time the Senate resumes, whoever wants to bring that one out to make it a law, will now bring it and then the procedures will take place.
“You can bring whatever to the floor in form of a bill. When you bring it, there’s going to be public hearing.
“All the stakeholders will sit down and talk about it. The parents, teachers, legislators, civil society organizations, even foreign organizations.
“We will sit down and talk. Even if they say that the minimum age should be 30 or 12, we will all discuss it in an open forum. So it’s still a comment which cannot be taken to be the law.”
Now, this clarification has ended the confusion Mamman’s comment has caused recently in the country. The existing law guiding the minimum age for admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is 16 years. Therefore, applicants and parents should not panic over the education minister’s statement.