Peter Obi Links JAMB Technical Glitches to Nigeria’s Failing Institutions

Peter Obi, a key opposition leader in Nigeria, has criticised the recent technical issues faced by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board during the UTME, describing them as a sign of a much deeper problem within the country’s institutions.

“There must be no room for further glitches—not in JAMB, not in any arm of government,” Mr Obi said in a statement on Thursday.

“The cost of repeated failure is simply too high and raises a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc they’re creating in our country, even in critical institutions like JAMB.”

At a press conference held on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede broke down in tears while confirming that technical errors had affected no fewer than 379,997 candidates who participated in the recently concluded examination.

Mr Oloyede also said that JAMB had made arrangements for the affected students to retake the exams.

Mr Obi praised Mr Oloyede for acknowledging the problem, saying the registrar’s honest admission and remorse were rare but commendable examples of accountability in Nigeria’s public offices.

The former governor of Anambra, however, pointed out that the incident shows the continued instability affecting many of Nigeria’s institutional systems.

“While JAMB’s swift response and willingness to own up to its shortcomings are worthy of recognition, the incident has brought to light a far more troubling reality: the persistent fragility of our institutional systems,” Mr Obi noted.

He added, “The emotional and psychological toll on students, and even parents, some of whom have reportedly suffered severe trauma, and in heartbreaking cases, even death, serves as a reminder of what is at stake. The integrity of examination processes and the reliability of public institutions are not optional; they are foundational to any nation’s progress.”

Mr Obi urged JAMB and other public bodies in Nigeria to put in place strong quality assurance mechanisms to improve their operations and restore confidence among citizens.

“Going forward, JAMB and similar critical bodies must adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks. This includes rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure,” said the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party. “Moreover, transparent communication with candidates and stakeholders, coupled with the prompt resolution of arising issues, is essential to restoring public confidence.”