There was a wild jubilation in Badagry as candidates preparing for the forthcoming 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) expressed joy on Saturday as JAMB suspended the National Identification Number (NIN) registration.
The registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had announced the suspension of using NIN as a requirement to be met by candidates intending to write the 2020 UTME while addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday.
He said that the move was to provide more time for candidates to get their national identification numbers.
He said the suspension was also to address the technical challenges experienced at some centres.
Oloyede told potential candidates to disregard the use of NIN for the 2020 registration and strictly comply with other procedures for the registration.
Mr Felix Godonu, a parent and the President of Hengo Badagry Youth Association, told NAN that the suspension was prompt and a welcome development.
“This will save the time during which students queue for the collection of NIN which has also given room for extortion from the students.
“The stress that the students have been going through in the last few months is uncalled for.
“The Federal Government should decentralise the registration process by using banks, tertiary institutions and online registration method.
“Our association had to support some students with transportation fares before they could travel to Ogun to register for NIN.
“It is high time for our government to have an up-to-date database; these students had written examinations conducted by WAEC, NECO and GCE in the past.
“Even, the JAMB registration process is enough for the government to generate NIN for their intending candidates,” he said.
Godonu urged JAMB to use the period between now and when next candidates would be registering for UTME to find a lasting solution to NIN registration.
According to him, this will save the students and their parents from the stress they had gone through in recent weeks because some of the children’s health cannot withstand such.
Mrs Tonia Kalu, a Deputy Director, National Population Commission (NPC), commended the Federal Government for its current action.
