Gladness Gideon
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recent technical failures that affected the results of over 379,000 candidates in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), cautioning that persistent glitches in critical national systems could spiral into a full-blown crisis if not urgently addressed.
Obi made his remarks via a post on his X handle (formerly known as Twitter), reacting to the public apology by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who admitted that technical errors compromised the integrity of some UTME results. While commending the rare act of accountability by the Registrar, Obi warned that the deeper issue lies in the systemic fragility of Nigeria’s public institutions.
“The emotional and psychological toll on students and their families is too high a price to pay,” Obi stated. “The integrity of examination processes and the reliability of public institutions are not optional; they are foundational to any nation’s progress.”
According to him, the tragic reports of trauma—and in some cases, death—linked to the examination errors underscore the urgent need for reforms. Obi urged agencies like JAMB to implement rigorous quality assurance frameworks that include thorough system testing, regular audits of technical infrastructure, and proactive communication strategies to ensure transparency and restore public trust.
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He emphasized that similar lapses in any other arm of government could be equally devastating and must be prevented through stronger institutional safeguards.
“There must be no room for further glitches—not in JAMB, not in any part of government. The cost of repeated failure is simply too high,” he warned.
Concluding his statement with optimism, Obi reaffirmed his vision for reform and resilience in Nigeria’s institutions, stating: “A new Nigeria is possible.”
His message comes at a time when public confidence in national examination bodies remains fragile, and his call for systemic reform is likely to resonate with many Nigerians seeking greater efficiency and accountability in governance.