The Federal Government on Wednesday urged candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions to ignore any rumour on cancellation of post UTME usually conducted by universities.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu made the clarification in a statement issued late night by the ministry’s Director of Press, Mrs. Chinenye Ihuoma, in Abuja.
Adamu described the statement allegedly issued by a former Deputy Director of Press of the ministry, Ben Goong as completely false and without foundation.
The Minister, in the statement, urged universities to go ahead with their Post- UTME arrangements as earlier planned.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has been drawn to a news report in the media claiming that the Minister had issued a directive to universities to cancel the Post-UTME examinations already scheduled.
“The statement, according to the report, was issued by Mr. Ben Goong, Deputy Director of Press.
“The Ministry would like to assert emphatically that:-
The report is completely false and without foundation.
“The Minister therefore urges universities to go ahead with their Post- UTME arrangements as earlier planned.
“Mr. Goong, who purportedly issued the statement, ceased to be a staff of the Ministry since November, 2016.”
Adamu also directed institutions collecting more than the N2, 000 pegged for the screening to refund such money to the students.
It added that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has been directed to compile names of institutions that collected more than the stipulated amount.
“The attention of the Minister has also been drawn to some of the institutions who are charging more than the stipulated N2, 000.00 (Two Thousand Naira) only.
“The Minister views this as an act of insubordination and emphatically redirected that every institution that runs in violation to the directive will be made to face disciplinary action.
“He therefore, asked such institutions to refund to the students immediately.
“Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been directed to compile list of violators for appropriate sanctions.
“The Ministry also urges the media to always endeavour to cross check facts with the relevant officials of the Ministry before going to the press, particularly when such sensitive matters of national importance are involved,” the statement added.