NUT Engages JAMB Registrar Concerning UTME Exemption for NCE Candidates

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Amba, has expressed concerns over the Federal Government’s decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) and non-technology agricultural programmes from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Amba raised the issue during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the NUT to the National Headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari, Abuja, where discussions centred on teacher education and the future of the teaching profession in Nigeria.

Speaking during the meeting, the NUT president reiterated the union’s opposition to the policy, describing it as a move that could undermine educational standards and diminish the status of the teaching profession.

According to him, removing a competitive assessment process for prospective teachers may create the impression that teaching requires less academic competence and could portray the profession as an option for academically weak candidates.

Amba also expressed disappointment that the union, as a major stakeholder in teacher education, was not adequately consulted before the policy was introduced.

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Rather than lowering admission requirements, he urged the government to focus on measures that would make teaching more attractive. These, he said, include improved welfare packages, scholarship opportunities, enhanced professional development programmes, stronger mentoring systems, and incentives capable of attracting talented individuals into the profession.

The NUT president further lamented that despite the union’s sustained advocacy for better conditions of service, the extension of teachers’ retirement age and years of service remains one of the few significant gains achieved so far.

He assured that the union would continue engaging relevant authorities, including the National Assembly, to push for improved welfare, stronger professional support structures, and better working conditions for teachers across the country.

Amba, however, commended JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for his unwavering commitment to teacher education and noted that many of the recommendations offered by the registrar would be incorporated into the union’s future advocacy and policy engagements.

He also praised Oloyede’s resilience, dedication, and enduring contributions toward advancing teacher welfare and strengthening the teaching profession in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Professor Oloyede urged the NUT to intensify its engagement with government and other stakeholders in advocating for welfare packages, incentives, and reward systems that would make teaching more competitive and appealing.

The JAMB registrar observed that the union has a critical role to play in reversing the decline in enrolment across NCE-awarding institutions nationwide. He stressed the need for sustained advocacy and strategic policy interventions to restore the prestige and attractiveness of the profession.

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Reaffirming his commitment to quality teacher education, Oloyede described the sector as a vital pillar of national development and pledged continued support for policies aimed at strengthening it.

Addressing concerns over the UTME exemption policy, he clarified that he would never support any initiative capable of weakening the teaching profession.

According to him, all his efforts as an educator and advocate of teacher education have consistently been directed toward making teaching a respected, competitive, and highly sought-after career.

To underscore his commitment, Oloyede referenced scholarly papers he had presented on teacher education, including “Strengthening Teacher Preparation in Nigeria: Admission and Contents Consolidation” and “Dwindling Enrolment in NCE-Awarding Institutions in Nigeria: The Way Forward.”

He encouraged the union to study the recommendations contained in the papers and leverage them in advancing its advocacy efforts toward improving teacher education and professional standards in the country.

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