UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU looks at the recent developments in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), especially its national identification number (NIN) requirements and consequent suspension due to limited time space, and reports that JAMB’s impact on the youth is far reaching.

Background

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which oversees the common entrance examination to the nation’s higher institutions of learning is undoubtedly a household name in the country. Nigerian youngsters whose ambitions are tied to scholarly exploits in future ensure that JAMB news is of utmost important to them. 

The ritual of buying forms, registering and sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations and later, post-UTME screening, are all important news not to miss.

When JAMB directed that National Identification Number (NIN) was a pre-requisite for 2020 UTME, many Nigerian youths, obvious of the limited time space between acquiring NIN and sitting for UTME, were thrown off balance. They thus jostled and scrambled for the number at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) offices across the country for registration in order to beat the deadline. 

JAMB registrar had directed that all prospective UTME candidates register and get their national identification number (NIN) from National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as a prerequisite for registration. However, efforts to get this done before the deadline proved herculean due to Nigerian factor or the limited time space or inadequate staff and facilities at MIMC. Because of this, there were public outcry by prospective candidates and parents of the need to extend the registration period or for JAMB to altogether give up the idea of NIN requirement for 2020.

After weighing the genuineness of the public complaints, the registrar suspended the NIN registration until 2021.

Centre accreditation

Earlier the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said over 650 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres had so far been accredited for its upcoming 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board thus fixed this year’s examination to commence from March 14 to April 4, while an optional mock examination for candidates was scheduled for February 18.

Also, the board had said that it would commence the sales of its registration documents from January 13 to February 17.

The head of media and information of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, told journalists in Lagos that arrangements for the commencement of the sales of the documents nationwide had been concluded.

“We are set to go. Logistics have been put in place to ensure a smooth process. Like you may know, over 650 CBT centres have been accredited for this year’s examination and the board expects nothing short of the best practices.

“We have clearly defined the process, just like we have also put mechanism in place that will address any challenge or challenges that may arise before, during and even after the examination.

“We also want to emphasize the fact that there is no going back on the use of the National Identification Number (NIN), for the acquisition of the registration documents by prospective candidates,” Benjamin said.

He urged candidates seeking to sit for this year’s UTME and who are yet to acquire the NIN to intensify efforts to do so in order to participate in the examination.

“My advice to the candidates ahead of the registration is to ensure that they seek advice or help from officials of the board. They should not involve third parties. They should always ensure too that they secure their personal data.

“They should not disclose it to anyone, not even the JAMB officials, because doing so could lead to mutilation of their records and other implications that could affect them much later in life.

“The board also wishes to state that the sale of Direct Entry forms closes same day as the UTME forms. There will be no extension.”

JAMB under fire

The compulsory requirement for NIN in relation to the limited timeframe between its acquisition and sitting for UTME had attracted criticisms from stakeholders, thus many prominent stakeholders advised the Board to suspend the compulsory requirement the National Identification Number (NIN).

Many believed that the suspension would provide enough capacity to cope with the volume of persons seeking registration within the very short time limit given by JAMB.

The NIN suspension

JAMB, under pressure, has suspended the use of NIN for registration for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The registrar of JAMB, Professor Is’haq Oloyede, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.

He said the decision was made to provide more time for candidates to get their national identification numbers.

Oloyede also stated that the suspension was to address the technical challenges experienced at some centres, adding that the exam body would consider the use of NIN for 2021 examinations.

“We also decided to suspend that prerequisite based on some technical issues on ground,” he said.

 “We came to a decision yesterday and decided that we will suspend the use of NIN as a prerequisite for the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration until 2021.

“By then, all candidates would have been given one year notice to register.

“This does not affect our permanent and ad hoc staff who will participate in the exercise as they will require the NIN for verification.

“We have gone round and seen the passion and commitment of the candidates; the reality on ground is that what we expect is not attainable at the moment, so we shall not inflict more pain on candidates.”

The registrar also noted that technical issues on ground with regards to the system of registration at the NIMC, was one of the major reasons for the suspension.

According to him, plans are underway for the provision of a more advanced system that will be more efficient for the exercise.

He also said that the board as well as NIMC would continue to share its intelligence reports as well as other plans for the smooth conduct of the exercise in future.

NIN to tackle malpractice

Oloyeded reiterated that the need for NIN as a prerequisite for the exercise was to tackle identity fraud during examinations.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez, said that the move was necessary as the Commission was overwhelmed with the exercise within the short time given.

He said that NIMC had only 1,000 centres around the country for the exercise and would need up to 4,000 to conduct such exercise.

He however, stated that the partnership with JAMB would continue while advising parents and candidates for the 2021 UTME to use the opportunity to acquire the number within the stipulated time to avoid last-minute rushes.

Azeez also said that by 2021, NIMC registration would be made available at JAMB Computer-Based Tests (CBT) centres nationwide, with operators on ground to capture candidates.

JAMB has fixed this year’s examination for March 14 to April 4, while an optional mock examination for candidates is scheduled for February 18.

NIN needed for other purposes

Prospective UTME applicants are still applying for the NIN despite its suspension by JAMB. JAMB had suspended the use of NIN due to the commission’s inability to manage the population surge.

 However, some prospective applicants are still applying for the NIN, citing the fact that the identification number can be used for other purposes, among other reasons.

 This is despite the announcement by JAMB that the compulsory use of the NIN for registration had been suspended.

JAMB management had on Saturday, January 12, suspended the use of NIN due to the NIMC’s inability to manage the population surge.

Some of the candidates said that getting the NIN now would help them when they need it for other purposes.

Most applicants said getting the NIN now means they would not have to pass through the stress again if they had to do the UTME again in 2021, and it can be used for other numerous purposes.

The board made the announcement of the suspension of NIN at a press conference at its head office at Bwari, Abuja.

Parents berate JAMB

Parents and guardians of UTME candidates seeking admission to higher institutions of learning have tongue-lashed JAMB for what they described as a poor policy framework.

They said the suspension came unexpectedly as the Board continues to call for NIN even in the evening of the day the idea was suspended.

Parents who might have gone through harrowing experiences during the struggle for NIN registration rebuked the board for what they called policy summersault.  They said despite candidates’ tales of woe in the process of trying to obtain the NIN and calls from the lawmakers, among other stakeholders, on the board to extend the deadline to 2021, the leadership of JAMB remained adamant, saying that “there is no going back on the use of NIN for 2020 UTME registration” but suspend the idea in one fell swoop.

With this, some parents were not impressed that the board had already subjected the candidates to a lot of physical and emotional stress.

Many parents blamed the scenario on poor leadership, wondering why Nigerian youths were always subjected to emotional trauma in their quest for knowledge for their children and wards.

“The period these children were supposed to use for preparation was wasted at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) offices. There were ugly stories about what these children passed through, including those that slept at NIMC centres,” a parent lamented.

UTME registration begins

The head of media, and information of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin said over 650 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres had been accredited for this year’s examination.
 
“Sales of registration documents will start from January 13 to February 17, 2020. The board has also fixed this year’s examination for March 14 to April 4, while an optional mock examination for candidates is scheduled for February 18,” he said.