FG sued by Agbakoba (SAN) over admission policy into Unity Schools

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has filed a suit before a Federal High Court, Lagos, asking the court to stop the Federal Government from further using alleged discriminatory cut-off marks for admission into Unity Schools across the nation.

He wants the court  to declare that the publishing of different cut-off marks for the 104 Federal Government colleges, known as Unity Schools across the nation, based on gender, ethnicity and states of origin, is discriminatory.

He filed the suit before Justice Jame Tsoho, through his organisation, the Human Rights Law Services.

He joined the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, in the suit, numbered FHC/L/CS/1358/2013.

Agbakoba argues that the differentiation also violates the fundamental guarantees to freedom from discrimination guaranteed by the Constitution.

He is therefore seeking “an injunction restraining the 2nd respondent (Minister of Education) from subsequently publishing any cut-off mark for the 36 states of the federation for admission into the 104 Federal Government colleges, which violates Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“A mandatory order compelling the 2nd respondent to implement a uniform cut-off mark for the 36 states of the federation.”

Agbakoba  cited as instances of discrimination in the admission process, a situation whereby out of maximum score of 200, candidates from Zamfara and Bayelsa states only need to score two and 72, respectively, while their counterparts from Anambra and Lagos states must score 139 and 133, respectively, to be admitted.

He stated, “The implication of this policy is that pupils from states like Zamfara and Bayelsa, with lower cut-off marks, for instance, will be accorded privilege or advantage in admission into the 104 Federal Government colleges on account of their state of origin, irrespective of their low score.

“Pupils from other states, like Anambra and Lagos with higher  cut-off marks, will be subjected to disabilities or restrictions  in  admission on account of their state of origin, irrespective of their high score.”


Source: Punch