Persistent delays in the processing of academic records at tertiary institutions in Nigeria, particularly universities, have sparked growing concern among students, parents, and education stakeholders. These delays—often blamed on lecturers and university Senates—have led to a range of complications, including students being recalled from national service for previously unresolved academic issues and final-year students being stranded due to missing or disorganised results.

Reports indicate that many students remain on campus months after completing final exams, awaiting the approval and release of their academic results. Critics argue that such inefficiencies have become systemic, with universities failing to uphold standards of timely record management. School administrator Sir Temple Ogueri Onyeukwu, in a recent review, described the situation as an indictment of university leadership, noting that many students only discover unresolved issues from earlier years when they are about to graduate. He blamed university Senates and vice chancellors for neglecting their oversight responsibilities.

“In the early ’80s, it was unheard of for students to proceed into a new semester without seeing their previous results,” Onyeukwu recalled. “Today, not only are results delayed, but students are also being denied timely mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) because records are either incomplete or not properly processed.” He cited a personal example of his niece, who was informed she needed to retake a second-year course only after completing her final year—a delay caused by a lecturer who failed to submit her results on time.

Prof. Kingsley Omorogiuwa, a Professor of Measurement and Evaluation at the University of Benin, acknowledged the problem but stressed the importance of institutional procedures. “Students should not wait more than three months post-graduation to be mobilised for NYSC,” he said. “Once Senate approval is granted, results should be issued within a month, provided students have met their clearance conditions.” He urged universities to improve communication and streamline result processing to ensure that students are not unfairly held back by administrative lapses.