The Nigerian Senate is set to ban the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from admitting candidates below the age of 18 years.

The Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education led Senator Akon Eyakenyi gave the indication during the committee’s oversight visit to JAMB Monday.

He said the committee had identified two major areas to be addressed in the proposed amendment for the exam body to function better. The committee also noted that candidates should not be admitted into the university below the age of 18 years.

Eyakenyi said: “Our own work is that of making laws, to legislate; we have identified two major areas that we need to go into the process of amending the act establishing JAMB. That’s the area of support we will give.

“Other than that, we also intend to pass on what we have seen today to the appropriate MDAs, the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure the support that JAMB needs is given to them.”

The senator further stressed the importance of education to the development and future of Nigeria, said the sector deserves maximum attention as good and quality education can only be achieved through funding and commitment of teachers and students.

While describing JAMB as a bridge between the secondary and the university, Eyakenyi said the agency was a necessary vehicle for the delivery of quality and standard education in Nigeria.

“If the products from the secondary schools are not properly catered for to be assessed before turning them into the university, definitely you will have a problem,”