18 year old limit for school admission belongs in the stone age Atiku tells Tinubu
Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s new policy restricting entry into tertiary institutions to individuals aged 18 and above, dismissing it as outdated and regressive.
On August 26, Tinubu administration has mandated that only those 18 years old or older can sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. This decision was communicated by Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman.
The Minister also confirmed that the age limit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will remain at 18 years. He added that JAMB would permit students below 18 to be admitted this year, but from the following year, the 18-year age requirement would be strictly enforced for university admissions in Nigeria.
In response, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, condemned the policy as “absurd” and a “disincentive” to education. He argued that the policy undermines the principles of federalism practiced in Nigeria and reflects poorly on President Tinubu’s administration, likening it to a “lost sailor” navigating without direction.
Atiku stated, “This policy contradicts the federal system’s principle of dividing responsibilities, and it shows the Tinubu administration’s disorientation. How does such a regressive measure address the myriad issues facing our educational system?”
He pointed out that the Nigerian constitution designates education as a concurrent responsibility, allowing sub-national governments to play a significant role. “It is unconstitutional for the federal government to impose educational regulations as if by decree,” Atiku argued.
He expressed disappointment that the government’s announcement of this policy did not include provisions for exceptionally talented students, which he found discouraging. “The statement is an embarrassment to Nigeria’s intellectual community and suggests that the country does not value its gifted students.”
Atiku concluded that the policy is outdated and should be strongly opposed by all who value intellectual freedom and educational access.
