The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has pledged its commitment to supporting the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in overcoming the persistent challenges affecting the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across Nigeria.
Chairman of the Committee, Oboku Oforji, made this known on Friday during an oversight visit to several UTME centres in the Federal Capital Territory. The visit, aimed at monitoring the ongoing examination exercise, revealed both commendable efforts and areas of concern.
In a statement released by the committee’s media unit on Saturday, Oforji commended JAMB for its professionalism and innovation in administering the national examination, describing the UTME as a “vehicle for self-discovery” for Nigeria’s youth.
“To me and the committee, we are very proud of what JAMB is doing,” Oforji said. “Seeing what they are doing today gives us hope for our country.”
However, the lawmaker highlighted several issues that require urgent attention. Chief among them were poorly ventilated halls, the absence of air conditioning in packed centres, and a lack of medical personnel and first aid services on site.
“Some of the halls were too compact, and candidates were seen fanning themselves due to poor ventilation,” Oforji noted. “We frown at the absence of nurses and inadequate first aid facilities in some centres, especially those hosting up to 250 candidates.”
He also acknowledged complaints from candidates regarding multiple payments and registration glitches, describing them as critical concerns that would be addressed in an upcoming stakeholder meeting with JAMB officials.
Despite these setbacks, Oforji praised the resilience and determination displayed by the candidates.
“You can see the zeal and commitment in our children. In spite of the uncomfortable conditions in some centres, their determination to succeed is commendable,” he said.
He expressed optimism in the role JAMB plays in shaping the future of young Nigerians, stressing the need for continuous improvement in service delivery.
“The issues raised by candidates like multiple registrations and payment challenges will be taken up with JAMB’s leadership. We believe JAMB is playing a very key role in helping our children access higher education, and we’re committed to helping them do even better,” Oforji added.
The committee’s inspection is part of broader legislative oversight aimed at strengthening accountability and improving standards within Nigeria’s education sector.
