NBA Demands Thorough Probe into JAMB, WAEC Exam Failures Amid Rising Student Distress

 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised serious concerns about the recent chaotic conduct of examinations overseen by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The NBA’s latest statement highlights disturbing lapses ranging from technical failures to unsafe testing environments, demanding immediate accountability and a full-scale investigation by the National Assembly.

Outrage over the irregularities began to mount following the release of JAMB’s 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. A significant number of candidates, along with their families, expressed dissatisfaction with the scores awarded. This dissatisfaction tragically culminated in the reported suicide of a 19-year-old student, Miss Timilehin Faith Opesusi from Lagos, originally of Abeokuta, Ogun State. The young girl’s death after receiving a low score has brought national attention to the reliability and integrity of JAMB’s examination systems.

JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, publicly acknowledged that the examination board’s computer systems were compromised by hackers. This breach forced the cancellation of results for nearly 380,000 candidates who sat for the exam across 157 centres primarily in Lagos and the South East regions. The admission that such a massive number of results were voided reflects deep vulnerabilities within the board’s operational framework.

The situation with WAEC has also drawn severe criticism. The NBA described the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as being conducted under “shocking” conditions that blatantly undermine students’ rights. Reports have emerged indicating that, for the first time in Nigeria, many students were compelled to write exams late into the night. In some locations, students sat for exams by the flicker of candles or the dim glow of mobile phone flashlights—luxuries only some could afford.

The delays were especially pronounced during the English Language Paper 2 & 3 exams scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on May 28 but did not start until 7:00 p.m., subjecting students to prolonged hours of stress and fatigue. Such extended exam hours raised safety concerns given the inadequate lighting and security in many examination venues.

A particularly alarming incident took place in Taraba State, where a classroom building at Government Secondary School, Namnai, collapsed around 6 p.m. while students were still writing their exams. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but students, teachers, and invigilators were trapped under the rubble. Rescue efforts by local community members saved many, with the injured rushed to the hospital. This near tragedy underscores the growing risks students face in what should be secure learning environments.

Labeling the unfolding crisis as a “new trend of impunity,” the NBA called on Nigerian educational institutions to uphold their roles as bastions of progress rather than sources of trauma. The association highlighted that every Nigerian student holds the constitutional right to education and to be treated with dignity—a right severely compromised by the current state of examination administration.

The NBA’s statement emphasized that conducting exams in conditions contrary to those publicly advertised, such as nighttime sessions without adequate facilities, is wholly unacceptable. They stressed that forcing students to write exams in the dark violates both their contractual rights with examination bodies and constitutional protections under sections 34 and 39, which guarantee dignity and access to knowledge.

“The students never contracted with WAEC to sit for examinations in the night,” the statement underscored. “Any examination conducted under such circumstances is already compromised.”

With this backdrop, the NBA appealed to the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives to establish a joint investigative committee. This committee’s mandate would be to scrutinize the lapses by both JAMB and WAEC and hold responsible parties accountable. The NBA warned that failure to act decisively would encourage further negligence and could lead to even more devastating consequences.

The Nigerian public has been urged to take note that the right to education is not merely procedural but a fundamental human right protected by law. The current examination disruptions not only undermine students’ academic futures but also threaten their psychological and physical well-being.

The NBA’s call to action underscores the urgent need for reforms within Nigeria’s examination frameworks to restore trust, ensure safety, and uphold the dignity of millions of students nationwide. Without swift intervention, the integrity of the nation’s education system remains at grave risk.