JAMB suspends compulsory use of NIN for 2020 UTME/DE registration

• As Groups Commend Registrar On Suspension
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has suspended the compulsory use of National Identification Number (NlN) to register prospective candidates for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry examination till 2021.

The registrar of JAMB, Ishaq Oloyede, who stated this at a press conference, yesterday, at the board’s headquarters in Abuja, said the move was to enable more candidates obtain NIN.  

He said the board came to the ‘sad position,’ due to some technical issues on ground.

The JAMB boss added it was no longer realistic and attainable for all prospective candidates to get their NIN before the close of registration on February 17, 2020, and that it does not want to inflict more pain on candidates.

Oloyede stated: “On Friday, we came to a very sad position that for 2020, we are not going to use NIN as prerequisite for registration. We are suspending it till 2021, where all candidates would have enough time to register. This does not, however, affect our permanent and adhoc staff, who will participate in this year’s exercise. They are all required to submit their NIN for verification. 

“We are conscious of the fact that we have a responsibility to ensure that, when something is no longer realistic, then we know that it is not attainable. And it is for that reason we are suspending the use of NIN for 2020 till 2021.”

Oloyede had earlier noted that the decision to make NIN prerequisite for UTME registration was based on law, directive and more importantly, on the fact that it was the right way to go. 

He said the NIN would also assist in eliminating fraud in identity management, especially double registration.