The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to immediately review the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) schedule, demanding that no candidate be required to sit for exams before 9 a.m. due to security concerns.
In a statement jointly signed by the NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, and the National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, on Sunday in Abuja, the student body issued a 72-hour ultimatum to JAMB to adjust the examination timetable and adopt a more student-friendly approach. They warned that failure to comply would prompt nationwide peaceful protests.
NANS described the current scheduling, which requires some students to travel long distances before dawn to reach exam centres for biometric verification and examinations between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., as insensitive and dangerous, given the prevailing security challenges across the country.
The statement noted that it is troubling for students to commute to examination centres in the early hours of the morning, often navigating unsafe routes and facing transportation difficulties. Reports indicate that some candidates have had to travel long distances, exposing them to unnecessary risks.
The student body stressed that the security situation in Nigeria demands that authorities prioritise the safety and well-being of students rather than subjecting them to undue hardship.
NANS also called on the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, to intervene and ensure that students are protected from avoidable dangers caused by poor planning.
They emphasised that the welfare and security of Nigerian students must never be compromised and reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for policies that protect students and support their academic pursuits.
