Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for urgent intervention to address the challenges faced by candidates registering for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, insisting that students must not suffer due to administrative shortcomings.
In a statement shared on his verified X handle, Obi lamented the persistent hardship encountered by candidates at various centres across the country, particularly at the Amawbia office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Anambra State.
He recalled that similar concerns were raised last year following the proscription of several computer-based test centres over alleged infractions.
At the time, there were expectations that corrective measures would be implemented to prevent a recurrence.
Sadly, Obi stated that as he passed there again last Friday, he met the same crowd and confusion. He added that further inquiries revealed that comparable situations exist in other states nationwide.
While acknowledging that the authorities may have legitimate grounds for sanctioning erring centres, Obi advocated for a more balanced and humane approach. He suggested that centres under investigation could be permitted to offer limited services under strict supervision to prevent further lapses.
According to him, where immediate approval of new centres proves difficult, JAMB could temporarily utilise previously approved centres under close monitoring to ease congestion at state offices.
With registration scheduled to close on the 26th, Obi warned of serious consequences for candidates, many of whom travel long distances from rural communities. He noted that some students reportedly sleep in Awka and other towns to secure access to registration facilities.
He cautioned that if nothing urgent is done, some candidates will miss the examination not for lack of preparation but because the system failed them.
Obi stressed that students should not bear the burden of systemic inefficiencies. He said students cannot be made to suffer the failings of a system to which everyone has, in one way or another, contributed.
He urged swift and compassionate action to ensure that no young person’s academic future is jeopardised by avoidable administrative bottlenecks, emphasizing that what is required now is practical intervention rather than apportioning blame.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board had yet to issue an official response to the concerns raised.
