Members of the House Committee on Education on Friday raised fresh concerns over technical challenges affecting the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), even as they acknowledged notable improvements in the overall conduct of the exercise.
The concerns emerged during an oversight visit to selected Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, where lawmakers observed the examination process involving over two million candidates nationwide.
Chairman of the committee, Hon Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, commended progress in areas such as security and coordination across many centres. However, he expressed worry over recurring technical glitches reported in some locations, including the Good Success Centre in Abuja.
He noted that while occasional technical faults are expected in digital systems, repeated disruptions during examinations could adversely affect candidates’ performance and overall experience.
Hon Oforji emphasized the need for proactive measures to address such issues before examinations begin, stressing that avoidable disruptions place unnecessary stress on students.
The committee consequently directed JAMB to take immediate and decisive action to resolve the challenges and ensure smooth operations across all CBT centres.
“As part of our oversight responsibility, we will thoroughly review JAMB’s activities to ensure these lapses do not reoccur,” a member of the delegation stated.
Lawmakers also underscored the importance of the UTME as a key gateway to tertiary education in Nigeria, highlighting the participation of a diverse pool of candidates, including working professionals such as military personnel seeking academic advancement.
They warned that no candidate should be disadvantaged or denied the opportunity to sit for the examination due to technical failures, particularly after traveling long distances to test centres.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with JAMB to enhance the examination process and ensure fairness, efficiency, and credibility in future UTME exercises.