The Nigerian Senate has clarified that recent statements regarding a potential increase in the age limit to 18 years for university admissions were personal opinions and not reflective of official legislative decisions.
In an interview with journalists on Wednesday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, emphasised that any adjustments to the age limit would necessitate proper legislative procedures, whether they involve raising or lowering the limit.
This clarification follows remarks made by Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, who mentioned last week that the government was considering raising the minimum age for university admission to 18 years old.
Adaramodu underscored that the discussion surrounding the minimum age requirement for admission is not yet codified into law, stating, “So 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.”
He further explained the legislative process, highlighting that any proposal would undergo public scrutiny and involvement from various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, legislators, civil society organisations, and foreign entities.
Adaramodu assured that all perspectives would be considered before any decisions were made.
Thus, the debate over the minimum age requirement for university admission remains open for discussion and eventual legislative action, pending formal proposals and deliberations in accordance with established procedures.
