South East Lawmakers Demand Accountability Over JAMB Glitch, Caution Against Regional Discrimination

 

The South East Senate Caucus has sounded the alarm over what it termed a “curious and highly suspicious” technical glitch that disrupted the recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The incident, which affected several exam centres in Lagos and, more conspicuously, across the entire South East region, has stirred unease and allegations of underlying political motives.

A strongly worded statement was released Saturday in Abuja by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the South East Senate Caucus and lawmaker representing Abia South under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). According to Abaribe, the timing and scale of the disruption raise profound questions about the integrity of the examination process and potential discrimination against the region’s students.

Rather than dismiss the situation as a mere technical lapse, the senators are interpreting the incident through a broader lens, suggesting that it may be symptomatic of deeper political undercurrents. The caucus accused unnamed national actors of "injecting hateful politics and narrow parochial considerations" into both policymaking and execution, particularly in the education sector.

Abaribe expressed grave concern over the psychological impact the glitch could have on candidates, especially students from the South East who were caught in the chaos. He warned that any recurrence would be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to marginalize a particular section of the country, potentially feeding dangerous conspiracy theories that could undermine national unity.

Though they acknowledged the prompt response from JAMB, especially the decision to reschedule affected exams and the emotional public apology issued by the board's registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the senators are not convinced that the matter should be considered resolved. They viewed the registrar’s tearful remorse as a commendable gesture but emphasized that such public displays must not serve as a smokescreen for deeper, unaddressed issues.

Senator Abaribe stressed that while the open admission of fault by JAMB offers a sliver of hope, it is not enough to erase the growing suspicion surrounding the incident. He urged national education stakeholders to provide concrete assurances that such a failure will never happen again—particularly not in a way that targets or disproportionately affects any specific region.

Rather than fizzle into bureaucratic oblivion, the caucus is treating the matter as a watershed moment. They called for transparency, thorough investigation, and structural reform in the management of national examinations. According to them, education must be shielded from any form of political interference or bias, as it is the foundation for national progress and unity.

Senator Abaribe stated, “The so-called glitch, as curious and suspicious as it was, is enough to erode confidence and dangerously lower national pride among the future generation.” He pointed out that the education of every Nigerian child should be sacrosanct and beyond the reach of political manipulation.

The statement stressed the centrality of education to Nigeria’s development and cohesion, describing it as a “major pivot” that must be preserved with utmost integrity. It warned against treating such incidents as trivial, noting that they could deepen existing regional grievances and further fragment national unity.

As frustration and speculation mount within the region, the South East Senate Caucus has pledged to maintain vigilance. They are demanding firm, verifiable assurances from JAMB and relevant federal education authorities to guarantee that what occurred is not a preview of a more sinister agenda aimed at stifling the academic future of South East children.

“We are under immense pressure,” Abaribe said. “The South East Senate Caucus will not rest until we are convinced that there is no grand design to shortchange our children. This is not just about technical failures—it’s about the future of an entire generation.

The senators called on the Nigerian government to reaffirm its commitment to equitable education across all regions, stating unequivocally that no child should suffer due to political miscalculations or administrative negligence.

Post a Comment

0 Comments