The Federal University Dutse (FUD) in Jigawa State has come under criticism for lowering its minimum pass mark to 25%, a policy approved by the university’s Senate on 23 December for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The FUD senate, at its 73rd extraordinary meeting, approved 25 marks as the minimum score required for the award of a concessional pass, according to a circular issued by the directorate of academic affairs through the office of the registrar, Bappa U. Shamsuddeen.
The senate explained that the new benchmark is intended to ensure uniformity across all faculties and departments and address practices where some students skip lectures, Continuous Assessment (CA) tests, or examinations under the assumption they would automatically receive a concessional pass a practice considered to undermine academic integrity.
Critics have raised concerns that the policy could reduce the overall quality of university degrees, potentially producing graduates less prepared for professional roles.
In many Nigerian federal universities, the standard pass mark remains around 40–45%, with scores below that typically classified as fails.
The controversy has sparked broader debates on educational quality and regional disparities in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, with some voices urging the National Universities Commission (NUC) to review the matter.
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