The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Oboku Oforji, has appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to extend the deadline for admissions into public and private universities for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Oforji made the appeal on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, while addressing journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja, warning that the short admission timeline could prevent qualified candidates from securing university placements.
The lawmaker said an extension would give prospective students a fairer opportunity to complete their admission processes, particularly those who have demonstrated a strong commitment to pursuing higher education despite various challenges.
He urged JAMB to show flexibility by allowing universities and candidates additional time to conclude outstanding admission procedures.
“It is important that JAMB extend the deadline for the admission of our children across the country. I think it is very important that I appeal to the leadership of JAMB,” Oforji said.
He added that he had formally communicated the appeal to the examination body, expressing confidence that the board would consider the request in the interest of education development.
The lawmaker also called for stronger collaboration between JAMB, tertiary institutions and other stakeholders to address admission challenges and ensure that qualified Nigerian youths are not denied access to higher education because of time constraints.
His appeal follows JAMB’s announcement of deadlines for completing admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The examination body had directed public universities to conclude their admission processes on or before October 31, 2026, while private universities were given until November 30. Other tertiary institutions are expected to complete their admissions by December 31, 2026.
The October 31 deadline for public universities has raised concerns among prospective students still awaiting admission decisions.
JAMB had also urged institutions to intensify their admission processes following the restoration of its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which enables institutions to process admissions and allows candidates to monitor and accept offers.
The board advised candidates to promptly accept admission offers to ensure compliance with the approved timelines.
JAMB further disclosed that it was implementing measures to strengthen the stability and reliability of CAPS.
Oforji maintained that extending the admission deadline would give institutions and prospective students more time to complete outstanding procedures and prevent qualified candidates from missing opportunities to pursue their academic ambitions.
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