Amidst recent speculation regarding potential changes to the minimum age requirement for admission into Nigerian universities, the Senate has clarified that such statements were individual viewpoints and not legislative decisions.
According to reports from DAILY POST, the Nigerian Senate emphasized that any adjustments to the age limit would necessitate proper legislative procedures, whether it involves raising or lowering the existing limit.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, addressed journalists, highlighting the need for formal legislative processes to enact changes in policies related to university admissions.
Last week, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, sparked discussions when he mentioned the government's consideration of raising the minimum age for university entry to 18 years old.
However, Adaramodu emphasized that such comments were not binding laws but rather expressions of opinion.
Adaramodu reiterated the Senate's stance, stating, “Comment on the minimum age requirement for admission is not a law.
“So it is just an opinion. It’s not a law. By the time the Senate resumes, whoever wants to bring that one out to make it a law, will now bring it and then the procedures will take place."
He emphasized that any proposal to change the minimum age requirement would need to undergo the formal legislative process, including the submission of a bill and public hearings.
The legislative process would involve engagement with various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, legislators, civil society organizations, and even foreign organizations.
He reassured the public that regardless of the proposed age limit, all stakeholders would have the opportunity to voice their opinions and participate in discussions during public hearings.
Adaramodu emphasized the democratic nature of the legislative process, where diverse viewpoints are considered before any decision is made.