 |
| Senators push for fair exams and audit |
The South-East Senate Caucus says a strange UTME failure reeks of politics. They claim the glitch hit only Lagos and the five South-East states. 379,997 candidates face a resit after JAMB admitted a system error .
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, speaking for the caucus, called the glitch “curious and highly suspicious.” He warned that a repeat would be unacceptable. He urged JAMB to prove it won’t harm the region’s students again .
JAMB’s registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, wept as he apologised. He blamed a lapse in software testing. He said JAMB would retest affected candidates starting this weekend .
Most UTME takers scored below the 200 mark needed for admission. Only 400,000 of 1.9 million passed, one of the worst rates in years .
Many students told the BBC they saw blank screens, missing questions, and sudden shutdowns . One student even lost her life after low scores left her distraught .
ASUU-UNN also weighed in. Its chairman claimed the failure aimed to block South-East students. He threatened court action if JAMB did not review scores fairly .
JAMB says it tested systems before the exam. It blamed an “unusual” upload failure in some centres. It says it will improve testing before next year .
Education experts warn that a glitch, deliberate or not, shakes trust in national exams. They urge a full audit and public report on causes and fixes .
Parents and students in Enugu demanded face-to-face talks with JAMB. They want fast answers and clear plans to protect future candidates. Polls show 85% of South-East families back the senators’ call .
Reps in Abuja also plan hearings on “technical error.” They seek evidence of why only some regions suffered the fault .
What next? JAMB must show proof of fair tests. Law-makers want system logs and audit trails. They also call for better power backup at exam centres.
Students wait on fresh exam dates. Some worry about fee hikes and travel costs. Civil groups ask state governments to support them.
This crisis raises wider issues. Will Nigeria fix its exam tech for good? Can it guard against local bias? And how will leaders rebuild trust?
The nation awaits full details from JAMB, senate probes, and court filings. But one fact stands clear: the future of many young Nigerians hangs on the answers.