A concerned Nigerian father has petitioned the Nigerian Senate after his 16-year-old daughter’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) result was withheld, allegedly because she refused the advances of her examination invigilator.
The issue was brought to light by Senator Neda Imaseun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, during a recent session at the National Assembly. According to Senator Imaseun, the petitioner claimed his daughter faced harassment during her JAMB examination.
The Allegations
During the session, Senator Imaseun explained that the father alleged his daughter was approached by the invigilator at her exam center, who asked for her phone number. When she refused, the invigilator reportedly became hostile.
At the end of the examination, her result was withheld, and upon inquiry, the official reason given was examination malpractice, an allegation both the girl and her father strongly deny.
Further Harassment Alleged
The father further revealed that the invigilator somehow managed to obtain his daughter’s phone number and began calling her repeatedly. After discovering this, the father warned the invigilator to cease all contact with his daughter. Following this confrontation, the situation escalated, and the girl’s examination result remained withheld.
Petition to the Senate
Frustrated by the lack of resolution and the impact on his daughter’s future, the father formally petitioned the Senate to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
Senator Imaseun emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and highlighted the potential implications on the credibility of the examination system if such misconduct is allowed to persist unchecked.
Call for Investigation
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has vowed to thoroughly investigate the matter, calling on JAMB officials and relevant authorities to provide clarity and ensure transparency in their review of the case.
Public Outcry and Reactions
The case has sparked public outrage, with many calling for stricter oversight of examination officials and better protection mechanisms for students, especially minors, in examination centers.
Next Steps
The Senate is expected to summon representatives from JAMB, as well as the implicated invigilator, to provide evidence and clarify the reasons behind the withholding of the candidate’s result.
The father remains hopeful that with the Senate’s intervention, his daughter’s result will be released, and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against the invigilator if found guilty.
This case underscores the need for stronger measures to protect students from harassment and ensure fairness in Nigeria’s education assessment systems.