The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has decried the absence of basic amenities for students writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Chairman of the Committee, Oboku Oforji, and members made this known at the weekend while monitoring the ongoing UTME Examination in some Federal Capital Territory (FCT) centres.

Oforji, who also monitored the conduct of the exams in Model Junior Secondary School Maitama, Capville Schools Dawaki, and SASCON International School Maitama, noticed that there was an absence of basic amenities such as well-ventilated halls, an air conditioning system, and first aid services to handle possible emergencies.

The lawmaker observed that some of the halls were too compact, to the extent that candidates were seen fanning themselves due to poor ventilation in halls hosting up to 250 candidates”.

Commending the authorities of JAMB for its efforts in conducting the examination in spite the challenges, he assured that complaints about multiple payments and registration glitches raised by candidates would be deliberated upon and presented during a stakeholders’ meeting with JAMB management.

He hoped that his team would also engage the leadership of JAMB to address these concerns ahead of future examinations.

He added, “You can see the zeal and commitment in our children. In spite of the uncomfortable conditions in some centres, their determination to succeed is commendable.

“They are making us proud. Seeing what they are doing today gives us hope in our country. We recall our country is passing through a serious challenge, serious challenges. And we are very, very proud of them and the level of their commitment, the zeal.

“You can also see the interactive section, the rational issues they are raising, and questions. And one of them talks about multiple registrations, attracting multiple payments, which we also frown at it.

“The issues they have raised, we are going to take them up with the leadership of JAMB because we believe that JAMB is playing a very key role in our children gaining admission. The foundation is very, very important. And you see the level of commitment of our children, the candidates, and we are very proud of it. So we are very hopeful that we will have a better country.”

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to make recommendations that would enhance the quality, safety, and integrity of future UTME exercises.