JAMB’s mercy: A blatant betrayal of equity and northern marginalisation
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has once again ignited fury with its recent decision to grant exam retakes exclusively to candidates in Lagos and the South East, citing a “technical glitch.” This move, draped in dubious logic, reeks of regional favouritism and systemic marginalisation of Northern candidates who faced identical disruptions. By isolating […]
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has once again ignited fury with its recent decision to grant exam retakes exclusively to candidates in Lagos and the South East, citing a “technical glitch.” This move, draped in dubious logic, reeks of regional favouritism and systemic marginalisation of Northern candidates who faced identical disruptions.
By isolating redress to specific zones, JAMB has not only exposed its institutional bias but also deepened Nigeria’s entrenched educational divides.
JAMB’s claim that the glitch affected only Lagos and the South East is as flimsy as it is insulting. Reports from Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto reveal widespread technical failures: students were logged out mid-exam, biometric verification failed, and servers crashed. Yet, these candidates are told to accept their fate while their Southern counterparts receive a lifeline.
If the glitch was truly “localised,” where is the transparency? Where are the server logs, the outage maps, and the data to justify this geographic cherry-picking?
Northern students, already grappling with infrastructural neglect and security challenges, now face institutional exclusion. Aisha Musa from Kano recounts; “I studied for months, only to be kicked out of the exam after 20 minutes. JAMB says it’s not their problem—but if I were in Lagos, I’d get another chance. Why is my future less valuable?” This sentiment echoes across the Northern states, where JAMB’s decision amplifies historical grievances over educational inequity.
Nigeria’s federal character principle enshrines equal opportunity, yet JAMB’s actions spit on this mandate. By privileging two regions, the board undermines national cohesion and fuels suspicion of an agenda to suppress Northern academic participation. Is this retake a remedy—or a rigged game to manipulate demographics in favour of Southern institutions?
If the board operates with integrity, it must publish detailed evidence justifying the regional retake. Otherwise, this decision stands as a discriminatory act, punishing Northern students for their postcode.
We demand an immediate nationwide retake or a categorical explanation for this regional bias. Northern governors, educational coalitions, and civil society must challenge JAMB in court and the court of public opinion. Nigeria’s youth deserve fairness, not a lottery of birthplace.
JAMB’s decision is not merely administrative—it is a moral failure. In a nation teetering on division, such blatant inequity is a spark in a tinderbox. Either all affected students retake the exam, or none. The future of millions must not be held hostage to regional politics. JAMB, choose justice—or step aside.
Sa’adu Sani wrote from Zango, Katsina State