Federal Government has abolished the policy of preference for catchment areas in admitting new students in Federal Universities.

President Muhammadu Buhari announced this yesterday at the 45th convocation ceremony of University of Benin in Benin City.

The President, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr Suleiman Yusuf, therefore, directed all federal universities to ensure that every local government, all states, and all geopolitical zones are represented in their admission of new students.

Mr Buhari warned that any institution found to go against the directive would be sanctioned, adding that he has directed Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Nigeria Universities Commission to ensure compliance commencing from 2020 admission season.

Buhari said NUC and JAMB have been directed to thereafter carry out a comprehensive student audits to ascertain compliance.

”If you look at demographics of the various Nigerian universities, it reveals a preponderance of over localisation and over indigenization with only a few universities including those owned by federal government having a semblance of national institutions in terms of the national spread of their staff and students population.

“Universities should be more broad-minded, less parochial and eschew over indigenization.

“Government expects university managers to do a lot more with less, given the economic reality confronting us as a nation today. This calls for innovative and transparent management practices.

“Funding is not just about the quantum of fund disbursed to universities, it also includes judicious management of available funds to ensure that we get more mileage on whatever funds are expended”, he said.

Sun