During the 2023 policy meeting held in Abuja, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, announced that Nigerian universities have reached a consensus to set 140 as the minimum benchmark for admissions in the upcoming 2023/2024 academic session.

This decision allows universities to determine their own individual cut-off marks for candidates.

While the general benchmark is set at 140, some institutions have already started proposing their own specific cut-off marks. The University of Jos and the Federal University of Technology have suggested a cut-off mark of 180, while the University of Ibadan, University of Benin, University of Lagos, and others have proposed a cut-off mark of 200.

It is important to note that these proposed cut-off marks may still be subject to further adjustments and deliberations.

The Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos State set the highest benchmark of 220 among the universities.

However, approximately 15 universities, primarily from the private sector, suggested reducing the benchmark to 120. Nevertheless, this proposal was dismissed, and a decision was made to establish a minimum score of 100 as the admissions benchmark for polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew Adejoh, said, “We have heard the voices of the majority. Most of the universities have agreed and the decision stands that 140 is the minimum benchmark for university admissions.”