Speaking during a Sunday sermon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the cleric argued that the current admission process places excessive pressure on students and has become outdated in today’s education system.

He questioned the relevance of UTME, noting that candidates are required to pass through multiple stages of assessment, including WAEC, JAMB, post-UTME, and varying institutional cut-off marks, which he described as unnecessarily stressful and discouraging.

According to him, the system forces students who fail to meet admission requirements to wait another year and repeat the entire process, which he said adds to frustration among young people seeking higher education.

The cleric further argued that the examination body has lost relevance, pointing out that universities still conduct additional screenings even after UTME, making the process redundant in his view.

He also raised concerns about the early morning scheduling of examinations, particularly sessions set for around 6:30 a.m., stating that it exposes candidates to safety risks and financial strain, especially those who must travel long distances and lodge near examination centres.

He explained that some families are forced to spend extra money on accommodation for candidates due to the timing and location of exam centres, which he said increases the financial burden on parents and sponsors.

He also criticised the practice of posting candidates to faraway centres, arguing that it worsens security concerns, especially in light of reported incidents involving student safety in some parts of the country.

Comparing Nigeria’s system with admission processes abroad, he stated that many foreign universities offer direct admission based on academic results without requiring a centralised entrance examination like UTME.

He concluded by insisting that the current system needs urgent reform, describing it as overly complex and no longer suitable for students.

In a statement released on Monday, the scheme’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, disclosed that the orientation course in the affected states will now begin on April 28 and conclude on May 18, 2026.

According to the NYSC, the adjustment is due to ongoing renovation work at the orientation camps being carried out by the respective state governments, stressing that the change is limited to Enugu and Osun.

The scheme further clarified that the orientation exercise in all other states, including the Federal Capital Territory, will proceed as originally scheduled from April 22 to May 12, 2026, urging affected corps members to take note of the updated dates and comply accordingly.

In a related update, the NYSC confirmed the release of call-up letters for prospective corps members in the 2026 Batch A Stream II. The announcement was made via its official social media platform, indicating that deployment details are now available following the earlier publication of the orientation timetable.

The scheme reiterated that the nationwide orientation programme is set to commence on April 22 as planned.

In a statement issued on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, clarified that the ADC is not engaged in any form of negotiations with other political parties in anticipation of an upcoming court ruling.

He stressed that the party’s leadership has no intention of abandoning the ADC platform, describing reports suggesting otherwise as unfounded and speculative.

Abdullahi stated that the leadership remains focused on challenging what it described as unlawful actions taken against it by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other actors linked to the ruling party, expressing confidence that the judiciary would uphold the rule of law.

While noting that the party remains open to broader opposition collaboration aimed at strengthening democracy, he maintained that there are currently no talks with any political group, including the PRP.

The clarification follows remarks by the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, who recently disclosed that several opposition figures had approached his party in recent weeks seeking possible alignment ahead of the next general elections. He added that the PRP remains open to welcoming interested individuals and groups, including members of the ADC leadership.