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Calls mount for probe into JAMB exam glitch amid allegations of Cover-Up

I have been in journalism long enough to know when there’s an orchestrated and predetermined cover-up,” Osuji stated. “What I initially thought was an error may not be so upon further reflection.

Published

1 year ago

May 16, 2025

Emmanuel Abiodun

A prominent Nigerian journalist and public commentator, Steve Osuji, has issued a blistering public statement calling for an urgent and transparent investigation into the recent Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination mishap that has sparked nationwide outrage, concern, and now—accusations of a cover-up.

In a strongly-worded message shared on a professional media platform, Osuji lambasted both the Ministry of Education and JAMB, alleging that the events surrounding the flawed computer-based (CBT) exams in a specific zone may have been more than an error—they could be part of a wider orchestrated concealment.

“I have been in journalism long enough to know when there’s an orchestrated and predetermined cover-up,” Osuji stated. “What I initially thought was an error may not be so upon further reflection.”

Osuji criticized the Education Minister for prematurely blaming students without proof, and questioned why JAMB delayed admitting fault until the tragic death of a reportedly traumatized student and mounting public pressure.

He emphasized that computerized exams should produce immediate results, suggesting that anomalies in the data would have been instantly noticeable if the system were functioning honestly.

Key Concerns Raised:

Delayed Accountability: JAMB only admitted fault days after the incident, raising suspicion.

Opaqueness in Procurement: Osuji questioned why the identities of contractors responsible for the technical failures remain undisclosed.

ALSO READ : Reps propose CBT centers in all LGAs after JAMB admits UTME glitches

Trauma and Death: The death of a young candidate linked to the glitch, and the potential psychological impact on many others, has largely gone unacknowledged by officials.

Systemic Issues: The commentator called attention to broader issues of corruption and inefficiency across educational agencies under the current minister’s watch.

In what could be interpreted as a call for legislative intervention, Osuji urged the House of Representatives to open a formal enquiry into the matter—not just to hold individuals accountable, but to strengthen the integrity of national examinations going forward.

“JAMB and all national examination bodies are too important to national development. Their integrity cannot be left to negative conjectures,” he wrote. “The contractor that has been blamed must be named and the enquiries must extend to JAMB’s procurement methods.”

Osuji’s remarks have since ignited debate among journalists and education stakeholders, many of whom now echo his call for transparency and reform.

The JAMB incident comes at a time when public trust in national institutions is already strained, following controversial elections and growing discontent with governance standards.