In this post, we’ll talk about the subject combination for Public Administration, including O’level (WAEC, NECO, etc.) and JAMB UTME requirements. In addition to that, we’ll provide answers to a few questions we believe might be asking.
Nigerian Universities have slightly varying requirements when it comes to giving admissions to students to study Public Administration.
The general requirement is: candidates who want to study Public Administration at any Nigerian University must have at least 5 credit passes in O’level, to include English Language and four other subjects.
Have it in mind that there is no generally acceptable subject combination for Public Administration since many universities offer waivers that have introduced a slight twist to the specific requirements.
Bearing that in mind, it is extremely important to know the specific requirements for the school you wish to apply to before completing your JAMB registration.
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Requirements for studying Public Administration in Nigerian Universities
‘O’ level subject combination (WAEC, NECO, etc.)
To study Public Administration at any Nigerian university, you need at least 5 SSCE credit passes, which must include English Language, Economics and Government, plus any other 2 social science or art subjects.
To put it differently, the NABTEB, NECO or WAEC subject combination for Public Administration is English Language, Economics and Government, plus any other social science or art subject.
The other subjects depends on the exact university you want to apply to. Read the special consideration for O’level stated below.
For NBC holders, the other relevant subjects could be from any of the following: Accounting, Principles of Accounts, Commerce, Office Practice and Secretarial Duties.
Special consideration for the O’level requirements
- UNIZIK, COOU, and ESUTECH require ‘O’ level credits to include Mathematics.
- ABU does not accept a combination of Local Languages and Religious Knowledge.
- BSU, ABUJA, and UNN require at least a pass in Mathematics.
- EBSU – Same as in Accountancy.
- NASARAWA accepts two ‘A’ level or IJMB passes chosen from Accounts, Business Management, Government and Statistics; NCE Government or ND Public Administration with at least lower credit.
- UNN requires minimum entry requirement plus credit level pass in English Language, Government or History and Mathematics at SSCE or GCE O’ level.
- OAU requires five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics and any 3 of Economics, Government/History, and Geography at not more than 2 sittings.
- BENIN requires five credit passes to include English Language, Mathematics, Economics/Commerce, Government/History and any other two Social Science subjects at not more than 2 sittings.
JAMB UTME subject combination
Candidates who wish to apply for Public Administration at any Nigerian University must register for Government, Economics and any other subject. Note that Use of English is compulsory for all courses and JAMB registers it for you by default.
Special consideration for JAMB UTME subject combination
- UNIZIK requires Mathematics, Economics, and any other Arts or Social Science subject. Geography is not acceptable.
- EBSU requires Economics and any other Social Science subjects.
- AAUA accepts any three Arts or Social Science subjects.
- OAU requires English Language, Mathematics, Economics and any of Government, History, and Geography.
- SALEM requires Government, Economics and any Social Science subject.
- BENIN requires Government/History, one Social Science subject, and any other subject.
- ABU accepts History in lieu of Government
Direct Entry Requirement (A’Level)
To gain admission to study Public Administration through Direct Entry, you need two ‘A’ level passes chosen from Economics, Accounting, Business Management, Government, Geography and Statistics.
Special considerations and waivers for Direct Entry Students
- ESUTECH accepts ND or its equivalent. and requires Direct Entry applicants to possess UTME requirements.
- UNIZIK does not accept Geography.
- COOU accepts NCE (Govt.) or ND Public Admin with lower credit.
- Benson Idahossa University and the Univerity of Nigeria Nsukka accept National Diploma or HND in Public Admin with a minimum of merit.
- UDU accepts
- History/Social Studies or Sociology in lieu of Government.
- ND in Public Administration not below lower credit.
- Benson Idahossa and ADSU accept ND/HND/NCE – a minimum of credit level in appropriate subjects
- GSU – as in Political Science.
- NASARAWA accepts History in lieu of Government.
- EBSU accepts HND, NCE/ND pass at Merit level in relevant fields in addition to ‘O’ level requirement.ND must be in Upper Credit level.
- O.A.U. accepts History
- UNN accepts for a 3-year programme (Direct Entry) candidates to possess one of the following qualifications:
- Two GCE (A/L) passes or its equivalent in any of the following subjects; Government, History, Economics, Business Management, Accounting, and Geography plus UTME requirement.
- Higher National Diploma of recognized institutions with a minimum of merit/lower credit level passes plus UTME requirement.
- Possession of Government is not a pre-requisite for 3-year Direct Entry candidates.
- BENIN requires in addition to O’ level requirements:
- At least two Advanced Level passes at the General Certificate of Education (GCE) or the Higher School Certificate (HSC) or any of their recognized equivalent at not more than two sittings. One of the two subjects should be Government or History
- National Diploma (ND) with at least Credit level pass in a relevant discipline from any recognized Polytechnic or College of Technology.
- Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE) with at least a credit level pass in Social Science subject from a recognized College of Education. In addition, such a candidate should have at least an Overall merit level pass.
- A pass in the Associate Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrator (ACIS) Part I or Associate Institute of Bankers (AIB) Part I or Associate of Chartered Institute of Insurance (ACII) Part I.
- ABU accepts two ‘A’ level/IJMB passes one of which must include Government/History and Economics.
- ILORIN accepts ND in Public Administration, or Local Government Studies with a minimum of Upper Credit and HND lower credit OR Advanced Diploma in Public Administration with a minimum of Upper Credit from Accredited Tertiary Institutions in addition to meeting UTME requirements.
Public Administration cut off mark
In general, Nigerian Universities allow students to partake in their Post UTME for Public Administration if they score a minimum of 180 in the JAMB UTME.
Universities where you can study Public Administration
The following Nigerian universities offer Public Administration as listed on the JAMB brochure:
- Fountain University, Oshogbo (FUO)
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU)
- Achievers University, Owo
- Adamawa State University Mubi (ADSU)
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli
- Bauchi State University, Gadau (BASUG)
- Baze University
- Benue State University, Makurdi (BSU)
- Caritas University, Enugu
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (EBSU)
- Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State (FUOYE)
- Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State (FUWUKARI)
- University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
- Lead City University, Ibadan
- Madonna University, Okija
- University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
- Mountain Top University
- Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK)
- Novena University, Ogume
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU)
- Paul University, Awka – Anambra State
- Salem University, Lokoja
- Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUSOK)
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK)
- The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Note that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka offers the course as Public Administration and Local Government.
What is Public Administration all about?
It is an academic discipline that studies this implementation of government policies and preparing civil servants for working in the public service.
Frequently asked questions
It is widely regarded as an Administrative field since most Nigerian Universities place it under the faculty of Administration.
Gaining admission to study the course is fairly competitive at most Nigerian universities.
Public Administration isn’t a science course and the requirements do not accommodate science students. The reason is, most science students in Nigeria do not offer Government, which is one of its core subjects.
After obtaining a degree in Public Administration you can apply for jobs related to fields including Consultancy, Government appointment, Budget Management, Politics, Human Resources Development (HRD), and so much more.
Generally, you have to spend at least 4 years to obtain a degree in Public Administration at most Nigerian Universities.
In most cases, the best universities to study Public Administration are the top universities in Nigeria. Whichever school you want to apply to you must, first of all, find out if it has NUC accreditation to offer the course.
Final note
We advise you to check the latest JAMB brochure for more information, as the Universities reserve the right to alter their requirements for studying Public Administration.