By Joy Odor
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for introducing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems at government JAMB centers to enhance transparency and security during exams.
In an interview during the oversight tour of the exams in Government Secondary School Wuse zone 3 and Aduvie International Center Jahi, Abuja, the Committee Chairman, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, praised JAMB’s use of technology, including CCTV and tracking systems, to monitor exams and prevent malpractice.
“What is important and very fundamental, JAMB has taken care of, even if there is any malpractice or anything. They have a tracker to ensure that everything is monitored and they have CCTV to monitor all the sites throughout the country.
“Also, they set a standard of making sure that no person will be admitted without due approval, without passing the exam. So, this is commendable and I think it is timely to support and enhance the educational system in Nigeria.
“Our essence as lawmakers is to ensure that all Nigerians are supposed to study in Nigeria so that we can develop this country. We have no other country than Nigeria. We have to work very hard.
“We are here today to witness the most important aspects of the foundation of tertiary institutions. The JAMB is undertaking examination. That is why we are going for oversight as stakeholders from the Senate of the National Assembly.
“It is part of our oversight function to ensure that there is accountability and transparency in whatever aspect of government activities.
“As part of the educational system, which under the 10th Assembly, under the leadership of our leaders, the Senate President and the leadership of the National Assembly, we are here today to witness this very important development and enhance the responsibility given to us as stakeholders.
However, Senator Dandutse expressed concern about the limited availability of examination centers in some local government areas, emphasizing that access to education should be made easier for Nigerians.
He noted that only two out of eleven local government councils in his senatorial district have ICT centers for UTME.
The Committee assured that budgetary provisions would be made for establishing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centers across the 774 local government councils in the country.
,”Since the Examination is computer based, centres for it, need to be made available across the 774 local government councils in the country and in doing this, this committee of the Senate in collaboration with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, shall facilitate budgetary provisions for it in 2026 fiscal year.
“I am from Katsina South Senatorial District where only two out of the eleven local government councils , have ICT centres for UTME” Senator Dandutse laments
The JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, informed the Committee that the board currently has 880 ICT centers nationwide but lacks coverage in some local government areas.
He appealed for Senate support in facilitating budgetary provisions to expand ICT center coverage.
This development aims to improve access to education and ensure transparency in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Recall that Friday, April 25, 2025 marks day two of the nationwide examination, which started on Thursday, April 24 and will end on May 5, 2025.
