For the past few weeks, Nigeria’s foremost pre-university examination board, JAMB, has been in the eye of the storm due to the massive failure recorded in its 2025 CBT examinations. Students across the country were affected by a so-called technical glitch, which reportedly resulted in the failure of about 379,997 candidates.
Appearing in a media briefing, the JAMB Registrar broke down in tears and apologized for the board’s failure to live up to its responsibilities. Strikingly, as he wept, members of his immediate team began clapping. This sparked uproar from various quarters of the nation, Nigerians wanted to know what the Registrar’s team was clapping for. Some asked were they clapping for his tearily display or their ineptitude in failing to prepare for a national examination despite having a full year to prepare. Nigerians all over the country have called for the immediate dismissal of the JAMB registrar, while others have pleaded for understanding, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and second chances.
For many years, Nigeria has been hampered by the gross incompetence of its leadership—whether in government, ministries, agencies, or parastatals. JAMB, an institution of national importance with a full year to prepare for its examinations, should not falter when it matters most. Students travelled long distances, studied overnight, prayed fervently—and tragically, there are reports of at least one student who allegedly committed suicide after seeing her result.
JAMB has since announced a resit of the exams. But I ask: will students be refunded for the time spent preparing for the exams? Will they be reimbursed for transportation, hotel lodging, and feeding expenses? What about the emotional toll and the stress of travelling?
The trust Nigerians have for its institutions is abysmally low, Nigerian do not trust its police, its electoral empire INEC, its politicians and even its judiciary and now JAMB has lost the trust of young Nigerians across the country. This unfortunate display of incompetence by JAMB has brought back questions of the relevance of JAMB as the connecting examination for prospective students looking to gain admission into university. Some persons have called for the total scrapping of JAMB, others have called for the sacking of not only the registrar but also the heads of their IT and quality assurance departments.
This also highlights questions on the competence of the exams itself, since it is a computer-based test, which are purely objective questions, why are students unable to see their results immediately after or few minutes after the submit their answers? Why do students have to wait weeks to see the results of a CBT exams when they can have those results a few minutes after the conclude their examination.
Our leaders—both in the presidency and across state governments—need to adopt a no-nonsense approach to leadership. They need to enforce strict standards of competence. Yes, leaders who make honest mistakes may be forgiven, but they should not escape the consequences. Leaders who are incompetent should be removed. Those who embezzle public funds should be voted out and prosecuted.
Nigerians have experienced too many “glitches” to let this be the new norm. From the technical glitch in the 2023 general elections to this recent experience young Nigerians had with JAMB.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Saudi royal family came to Nigeria for medical treatment. It wasn’t too long ago that Nigeria was a major agricultural producer and a net exporter of food. Now, we have surrendered to incompetence, led by individuals who have no business occupying positions of leadership.
When a doctor leaves surgical equipment in a patient’s stomach, leading to the patient’s death, we don’t ask for forgiveness—we question the doctor’s competence and revoke their license. When a pilot causes a crash, we don’t ask for mercy—we demand accountability. When a police officers “accidentally discharges” on an innocent civilian, we don’t ask for forgiveness, we demand he be relieved of duty and prosecuted
If Nigerians truly value competence, why don’t we hold our leaders to the same standards? Heads of government agencies like JAMB should reflect the kind of nation Nigeria aspires to be. Forgiveness is divine—but justice and accountability must follow.
