The Owners of Private Schools Association of Nigeria (OPSAN) has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt admissions into universities for the 2026/2027 academic session. This appeal was made until all outstanding WAEC, NECO and NABTEB results are released. According to OPSAN, continuing with the admissions process would unfairly exclude candidates who are still awaiting their results.
OPSAN National President, Prof. Uzochukwu Solomon Nwanonyuo, expressed concerns in a statement after a stakeholders' meeting in Abuja. He emphasized that the situation is unfair to candidates who rely on NECO and NABTEB results for admission. The association noted that JAMB had started the admissions process when some WAEC results were still pending and NECO and NABTEB results had not yet been released.
The situation particularly affects students from technical colleges, Federal Science and Technical Colleges, vocational and commercial schools. These students rely on NECO and NABTEB qualifications to secure admission into higher institutions. OPSAN described the current situation as not proper and not justified. Some federal universities have already concluded admissions for professional courses, while students waiting for NECO and NABTEB results have not even had a chance.
OPSAN has called on the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, to intervene and direct JAMB to put the admission process on hold. The association also urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to direct universities to suspend their admission processes. This intervention would allow candidates awaiting the outstanding O'Level results to participate in the admissions process.
The association further requested that WAEC release a comprehensive list of candidates who sat for the affected examinations. OPSAN also urged NECO and NABTEB to expedite the release of their results. By doing so, all candidates would have an equal opportunity to participate in the admissions process.
OPSAN argued that proceeding with admissions based largely on available WAEC results places candidates relying on Nigeria's national examination bodies at a disadvantage. The association believes that JAMB granting admission without waiting for NECO and NABTEB results undermines the credibility of these national examination bodies.
OPSAN emphasized that all O'Level results must be released before admissions commence to give every Nigerian child a level playing ground. The association's president, Prof. Nwanonyuo, stressed that Nigeria should be strengthening NECO and NABTEB, not indirectly making WAEC the only yardstick for UTME admissions.
Key points
- OPSAN urges FG to halt university admissions until all O'Level results are released.
- The situation affects students relying on NECO and NABTEB qualifications for admission.
- OPSAN requests WAEC, NECO and NABTEB to expedite the release of their results.
