In a significant push to prevent extortion and improve service delivery, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to fully automate its processes. The initiative, aimed at reducing physical contact between candidates and officials, is seen as a crucial step in protecting young candidates from exploitation.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, stressed the importance of this measure, especially given that many of the candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are minors. “Many of the candidates who take the UTME are underage,” Oloyede said, adding that minimising physical interactions would help tackle extortion and other forms of exploitation.
The announcement was made through a bulletin on the board’s website on Monday, outlining JAMB’s efforts to address concerns about unscrupulous practices within the examination system. The board plans to shift interactions with candidates online, with all calls being recorded for transparency and quality control.
“We’ve received numerous reports about unwholesome practices in some centres,” Oloyede explained, revealing that an investigative team had been deployed to address the issues. He urged candidates who have experienced extortion or irregularities to provide credible evidence, assuring that any JAMB staff or centre found culpable would face strict legal consequences.
Oloyede also took a moment to commend JAMB’s workforce, stating, “I can vouch for the honesty of over 99 percent of JAMB staff,” but added that any “bad eggs” would be identified and punished accordingly.
This latest move follows several high-profile incidents. In March, a businesswoman, Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke, filed a ₦100 million lawsuit against JAMB and others, accusing them of sending unsolicited and inappropriate text messages to her 15-year-old daughter. The case, which is currently before the Federal High Court in Lagos, underscores the urgency of protecting minors in the examination process.
In January, JAMB also made headlines with the arrest of staff linked to inappropriate conduct at a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre. A social media post by a concerned mother highlighted the issue, sparking outrage and leading to swift action by the board.
JAMB’s move towards automation is seen as a bold step towards reforming Nigeria’s examination system, with hopes that it will improve transparency and reduce malpractice.
