The management of the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, has dismissed as misleading and unprofessional a report alleging exploitation, intimidation and threats against students of the institution.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the college’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimenda Gideon, the management faulted the publication, stating that the allegations fell short of basic journalistic standards of fairness, verification and responsible reporting.
According to the statement, the difficulties encountered by some students were not the result of exploitation by the management but stemmed from poor academic performance and disciplinary issues, including chronic absenteeism from lectures, persistent lateness and prolonged absence from both lectures and clinical postings.
To support its position, the college cited examination records. It disclosed that during the September 2025 Midwifery Professional Qualifying Examinations, 141 students sat for the exams, with 58 students passing, representing 41 per cent. In the same period, 67 Community Midwifery students participated, out of which 40 students passed, accounting for 59.7 per cent.
For the November 2025 Nursing Professional Qualifying Examinations, the management said 277 Basic Nursing students (Set 21) sat for the examination, with 111 students passing, representing 40 per cent. It added that 135 Community Nursing students participated, but only 27 students passed, translating to 20 per cent.
The college maintained that the results reflected students’ level of preparedness rather than any administrative failure, noting that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria centrally sets and marks the examinations, and that the college management has no influence over the outcomes.
It explained that in response to the poor performance and in line with regulatory requirements, the management and the Academic Board resolved that students repeating an extra semester must pay the approved school fees. It also stated that students are required to attain a minimum of 75 per cent attendance in lectures and clinical postings before qualifying to rewrite final examinations.
The statement further noted that any student who fails an external examination must first rewrite the pre-council examinations, with presentation timelines fixed for March 2026 for Midwifery and May 2026 for Nursing, to avoid sanctions or possible closure of the institution.
The management revealed that rather than comply with these regulations, some affected students issued a collective response threatening protest actions, prompting the college to report the matter to the Ministries of Health and Tertiary Education, with all relevant supporting documents submitted.
It also pointed out that the institution’s rules, as contained in the Students’ Handbook, clearly state that absence from lectures and clinical postings beyond 28 days attracts demotion.
The college denied all allegations of exploitation or intimidation, stressing that all fees charged are statutory, transparent and in line with the Taraba State Government’s free education policy, the guidelines of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, and standard clinical training regulations.
Elijah Adeyemi
