Reps ask JAMB to suspend NIN requirement for UTME candidates

The House of Representatives has asked the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to suspend its plan to make NIN mandatory for candidates who wish to apply for the UTME exam starting from 2020/2021. According to IgbereTV, this NIN issue was raised by Zainab Gimba (representing APC, Borno) who called on JAMB to review the NIN policy on until 2021. Zainab urged JAMB to review the timeline for the NIN policy implementation pending the establishment of more enrolment centres by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) across the country. According to her, statistics from NIMC shows that less than 20 percent of Nigerians have actually enrolled for the NIN. She further expressed concern that,

“most have been hindered by infrastructural challenges like poor network, power failure, no power supply and sometimes inadequate manpower or equipment to attend to them”.

Hence, suggested that JAMB should collaborate more with NIMC, states and local governments for efficient registration of its prospective candidates.

Is NIN still required for JAMB?

From the look of things, JAMB might end up making NIN optional at least for the 2020 candidate until things are put on the ground to facilitate easy enrollment process for the National Identification Number. However, I suggest that candidates do not to quickly dismiss the NIN thing until JAMB makes an official announcement regarding it.