JAMB, NIMC set to fulfill as candidates face challenges over NIN

One week after the graduation of the gross sales of kinds for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), potential candidates have expressed frustration over the challenges confronted of their efforts to both hyperlink their cellular phone strains with their Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN) or ‘incorrect’ data contained of their NIN particulars.

UTME is an entrance examination for candidates in search of admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions- universities, polytechnics, faculties of schooling, and monotechnics. It’s performed yearly by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

JAMB has mandated candidates prepared to take part within the examination to make use of their NIN for the appliance course of. It’s a part of the examination physique’s measures to counter malpractices like impersonation.

However following growing complaints by candidates, their dad and mom, or guardians, JAMB mentioned it already scheduled a gathering with the management of the Nationwide Id Administration Fee (NIMC)- the physique accountable for NIN.

Challenges

Because the gross sales of kinds kicked off on Monday, 15 January, many candidates and their dad and mom and guardians have expressed dissatisfaction with the challenges posed of their efforts to generate their digital pins for registration.

Abiodun Omole, a guardian to an applicant, mentioned his nephew couldn’t generate the required profile code for registration “even after following the laid down directions, and repeating the processes many occasions.”

He mentioned the message he constantly obtained is “No report discovered. Ship electronic mail with NIN and identify to nimc-jamb2023@nimc.gov.ng. Then strive once more in 4 hours.”

“I’ve despatched the mail greater than 5 occasions with none response from NIMC. That is disappointing and irritating,” he mentioned.

Equally, Musefiu Alabi, mentioned the knowledge provided for his daughter by NIMC is at variance with what was offered on the registration level.

“The native authorities space for her state of origin offered throughout her NIN registration is sort of completely different from what we discovered on the level of registration. For my son, the date of beginning is twenty fifth however we noticed twenty third. We’re conscious altering such requires as a lot as N15,000 and takes time to take impact,” Mr Alabi mentioned.

He narrated the frustration of many different candidates at a registration centre in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, saying; “These youngsters shouldn’t be made to face this sort of disaster as a result of they’re in search of admission into tertiary establishments. Issues must have improved higher than this mess we now face.”

Findings by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that there are quite a few different challenges with NIN requiring information updates or correction however many candidates have gone forward with their registration on the JAMB portal as a result of their dad and mom and guardians mentioned they may not afford further prices for such companies.

“Is it the time for the correction or the cash concerned? The cash required to right information with NIMC can be utilized to acquire two UTME kinds. Isn’t that loopy? We’re not simply severe on this nation,” one other guardian who doesn’t wish to be quoted informed this newspaper.

JAMB pledges intervention

JAMB has mentioned it’s conscious of the challenges confronted by candidates, particularly in reference to their NIN verification and linkage, and pledged swift intervention.

The Head of Public Affairs and Protocol for the examination physique, Fabian Benjamin, mentioned JAMB is shocked by the amount of complaints, and {that a} assembly has been scheduled between the leaderships of the 2 organisations.

“Each JAMB and NIMC will meet on Monday (at this time) to deal with the issues and I can guarantee you that these points will probably be addressed,” Mr Benjamin mentioned.

He, nonetheless, suggested candidates who observe incorrect particulars of their NIN data to halt their UTME registration till the knowledge is up to date and corrected by NIMC.

In the meantime, efforts to get the response of NIMC on the event have been unsuccessful as calls to the phone line of the Head of its Public Communications Unit, Kayode Adegoke, weren’t answered.