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The 3-year Ban For Examination Cheats
Recent developments in Nigeria’s education sector have laid bare the appalling rot eating deep into its foundations.
From the alleged mismanagement of ₦71 billion under the nascent student loan scheme involving banks and some universities, to widespread glitches in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and from the leaking of English Language questions in the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), to the tragic collapse of a classroom block on SSSCE candidates in Taraba State, the signs are ominous. These events point unmistakably to a sector in severe decay.
Added to this is the revelation that over 75 per cent of candidates in the 2025 UTME scored 200 marks or below, with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) confirming that the examination had some technical glitches, with a good number having to resit the exam.
Perhaps the most disturbing incident was the leak of examination questions that forced candidates to sit for the SSSCE at night using torchlights, an action that has rightly attracted widespread condemnation.
In response, the minister of education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that any candidate found guilty of exam malpractice should be barred from sitting for any external examination for the next three years.
While we share the minister’s concern and support all genuine efforts to curb this menace, we believe that this proposed punishment is cosmetic and selective.
The Nigerian experience has shown that examination malpractice is not confined to students alone. Parents, teachers, school owners, and even top officials in public and private institutions are deeply complicit. So, why then should only the candidates bear the brunt of punishment?
In previous years, parents were caught impersonating their children in critical examinations. What was the outcome of such a revelation? Beyond media coverage and public outrage, no real consequences followed. This underlines the entrenched nature of the problem and the reluctance of authorities to tackle it systemically.
Moreover, the Examination Malpractices Act, Cap E15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 already provides for stiffer and more comprehensive penalties. The Act outlines clear definitions of examination malpractice, including impersonation, the use of unauthorised materials, fraudulent devices, and collusion between candidates, and prescribes fines up to ₦100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. It also stipulates that only the Federal High Court can try such cases.
Thus, it is not the absence of laws that has made malpractice the norm. Rather, it is the consistent failure to prosecute offenders diligently and transparently.
We therefore urge the federal and state governments to collaborate to implement this law effectively. Furthermore, certain archaic provisions in the Act should be amended. For instance, the exclusive jurisdiction granted to the Federal High Court should be reconsidered to allow for faster and more accessible prosecution. There should also be specific timeframes for concluding such cases, to ensure swift justice and send a clear deterrent message to would-be offenders.
Mass sensitisation is also crucial. Many candidates, parents, teachers, and school proprietors remain unaware of what constitutes examination malpractice and the legal consequences. This knowledge gap must be closed through sustained public enlightenment campaigns.
Examination malpractice has become a cancer in Nigeria’s education system. It undermines the credibility of academic assessments and qualifications. If not decisively addressed, it threatens to devalue Nigerian certificates and flood the labour market with unqualified graduates.
As a newspaper, we urge the government to go beyond surface-level interventions like the proposed three-year ban. The root causes – lack of adequate preparation, undue parental pressure, a flawed value system, and institutional corruption – must be addressed.
Parents must reduce the psychological pressure they place on children and stop imposing subject choices and career paths. Candidates should be allowed to pursue courses aligned with their interests and abilities.
Security around examination venues must also be tightened. Invigilators and school officials who collude to enable cheating must be held accountable. Without stringent oversight, efforts to curb malpractice will fall flat.
Therefore, the fight against examination malpractice must be waged collectively, with equal commitment from government, educators, parents, and students.
If we do not act now, we risk raising a generation of certificate holders who lack the knowledge, competence, and integrity to drive Nigeria’s progress.
Leadership.ng
The Vice Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo, Professor Sunday Okeniyi, has enjoined the newly employed staff of the institution to develop the spirit of teamwork, respect, and discipline, which are the hallmarks of every successful institution.
Okeniyi disclosed this during the orientation programme for the newly employed staff of the institution.
While welcoming the newly employed staff, he also congratulated them on their successful appointment into the fast-rising institution. “Your joining us today is not by chance, but by merit, commitment, and the will of God. Atiba University is a citadel of learning and character formation, envisioned to nurture and produce men and women of excellence, integrity, and service. By becoming part of this family, you are now co-builders of this noble vision.”
The V-C said the orientation programme was a deliberate initiative of the management to formally integrate the new staff into the University system. “It is designed to give you a clear understanding of our mission, vision, core values, rules, and operational culture. Our goal is not just for you to work here, but for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and leave an indelible mark on the growth and transformation of this University.”
He explained that the university places a premium on academic excellence, innovative research, moral uprightness, and community development. These values define the identity and are the standards the staff must all uphold in their respective assignments—whether as academic staff shaping young minds or as non-teaching staff providing essential support services that make our work possible.
While admitting much needed to be done, Okeniyi said the institution has recorded remarkable progress within a short time. “The future we envision—a future of global competitiveness, leadership in innovation and knowledge, and impact within and beyond Nigeria—requires the collective commitment of every member of staff. That includes you. Your dedication, creativity, and professionalism are needed to propel us forward,” he said.
News
This Is War, Kill Every Single One Of Them – Fani-Kayode Blows Hot Over Zamfara Mosque Massacre
Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the gruesome murder of five worshippers during an early morning prayer in Yandoto village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
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Speaking via his 𝕏 account, he insisted that the killers should be wiped out, adding that there should be no room for discussions or negotiations.
Fani-Kayode asserted that the killers are terrorists not bandits and described their actions as an act of war.
He wrote: “These are not bandits. Pls stop calling them bandits. They are bloodthirsty killers and terrorists and every single one of them should be wiped off the face of the earth.
“If our people cannot worship God in peace then we have nothing. No negotiation, no discussion, no ransom payments, no rehabilitation.
“This is WAR. Kill every single one of them, wipe out their blood line and decimate their communities and abodes. There is no place on earth for those that slaughter innocent civilians.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of failing to address the escalating banditry crisis in the state.
Naija News reports that a deadly attack occurred on Sunday in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, which left several residents and vigilante members dead.
Speaking via a statement on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, described the massacre as “a despicable and senseless act.”
He blamed the governor for the insecurity situation in the state, noting that it is a monumental leadership failure.
Adewara said, “The gruesome videos of the casualties circulating online make it look like Kwara is now at war. Under AbdulRahman’s watch, terror is reigning, kidnappers are taking over rural villages, and nowhere is safe again.”
The opposition party faulted AbdulRazaq’s alleged silence and absence from the affected community, insisting that a responsible leader should have personally visited Oke-Ode to commiserate with victims’ families and give assurances of decisive action.
It further accused the governor of neglecting local vigilantes and security personnel “battling criminals in the bush,” while diverting funds to “footballers and entertainers outside the state.”
The PDP’s criticism comes amid rising concern in Kwara North, where repeated bandit attacks have forced residents to abandon farms, schools, and businesses.
News
Nigeria @65: Atiku Knocks Tinubu’s Government In Strongly-Worded Independence Day Message; Details Emerge
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has praised Nigerians for what he described as “uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience despite living under suffocating socio-economic and security conditions”
In his Independence Day message to Nigerians, the opposition leader alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had abandoned Nigerians to their fate
Atiku lamented that Nigerians were enduring pains from “raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness all “compounded by the insensitivity of the APC-led administration
In an Independence Day message released by his media office, obtained by Legit.ng, Atiku lamented that Nigerians are enduring excruciating pains from raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness.
The presidential hopeful accused the Tinubu administration of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
Atiku declared: “It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme. But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring.”
Furthermore, Atiku called on citizens not to lose faith, reminding Nigerians that the 2027 election provides a clear opportunity to reject bad leadership and reclaim the promise of a better tomorrow.
He said: “The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people.”
At 65, Atiku noted, Nigeria remains “a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay”.
The 78-year-old blamed Nigeria’s condition on “a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance.”
He bemoaned: “Yet, he urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, insisting that with the right leadership, the country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.”
PRESS RELEASE
Nigeria @65: @atiku Hails Nigerians’ Courage, Blasts APC Over Economic Strangulation
Former Vice President of Nigeria and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, has paid tribute to the uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience of Nigerians who, despite living under… pic.twitter.com/cPnI9KzxrJ
— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) September 30, 2025
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