The Lagos State Government has rejected the 150 minimum cut-off mark approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for university admissions, insisting that candidates seeking admission into its state-owned universities must score at least 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education in Lagos State, Tolani Sule, said the state would not lower its academic standards to align with the national benchmark approved by JAMB.
Speaking on the development, Sule described the 150 cut-off mark as inadequate for institutions owned by the Lagos State Government, stressing that maintaining quality education remains a top priority.
“We believe 150 is too low for admission into our universities. Lagos has built a reputation for educational excellence, and we cannot compromise our standards,” he said.
The commissioner added that Lagos State, with its comparatively stronger educational performance, could not be assessed using the same benchmark as states facing educational disadvantages.
“We cannot compare Lagos with states that have different educational realities. Our institutions must continue to reflect the high standards expected of them,” Sule stated.
The decision means candidates who scored between 150 and 184 in the UTME may be unable to secure admission into Lagos-owned universities, pushing many to explore opportunities in other institutions with lower entry requirements.
Despite the tougher admission benchmark, the state government maintained that it is expanding access to higher education through the establishment and development of more state-owned tertiary institutions, while preserving academic quality.
The move has also sparked conversations around the authority of JAMB in setting uniform admission benchmarks nationwide, with some education stakeholders expected to weigh in on whether individual states should be allowed to determine separate standards for admission into public universities.
