The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Tuesday pegged the minimum cut-off mark for admissions into universities at 120.

The decision was taken in collaboration with Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of higher institutions in the country at a combined policy meeting on admissions into universities, polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The stakeholders also adopted 100 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into polytechnics.

They agreed that admission into first choice universities should close on October 15 while December 15, 2017 was set as the closing date for second choice admission by institutions.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede said universities, with the decision, are not to go below the minimum 120 cut-off points adopted by the meeting for admissions.

He  called for the adoption of flexible cut-off marks for admission processes by higher institutions in the country.

He said, “What JAMB has done is to recommend; We will only determine the minimum, whatever you determine as your admission cut-off mark is your decision.

“The Senate and academic boards of universities should be allowed to determine their cut-off marks.”

The Registrar said the board discovered over 17,160 illegally admitted students by higher institutions, adding that the body has regularized some of them.

He said, “30 % of those in higher institutions do not take JAMB or have less than the cut-off marks.

“The admission process is now automated with direct involvement of the registrar of JAMB for final approval.

“We have agreed to regularize admissions that were done under the table this year. From next year we will not accept anything like that.”

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu described as a mistake, the Federal Government’s ban on tests conducted by universities after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations.

He explained that post-UTME was banned because it had become an avenue for corruption.

Adamu however encouraged higher institutions to conduct aptitude tests for candidates seeking admission, and pegged the fee for the test at N2000.