Abuja, Nigeria — The South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, over widespread technical failures during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement issued by the Caucus leader, Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo (APC, Ebonyi), the lawmakers described the glitches as a “catastrophic institutional failure,” affecting approximately 380,000 candidates nationwide, with a significant number from the South-East zone.
They criticized the Board’s handling of the situation, pointing to poor communication, overlapping exam schedules with WAEC, and a resit announcement made with less than 48 hours’ notice. These issues, they said, created unnecessary hardship for students and families.
“Professor Oloyede himself admitted on May 14, 2025, that a ‘technical glitch’ disrupted the UTME in several centres, necessitating a resit for nearly 380,000 candidates,” the statement noted. “This failure has severely eroded public trust in JAMB’s ability to conduct credible exams.”
The lawmakers further demanded the cancellation of the entire 2025 UTME and proposed that a fresh examination date be set—preferably after the conclusion of WAEC and NECO exams—to avoid conflicts and ensure fairness.
They also urged the immediate suspension of officials overseeing JAMB’s digital infrastructure, stressing that apologies were not enough and that Prof. Oloyede should resign to allow for an independent review and restoration of public confidence.
“JAMB’s reaction so far has been grossly inadequate. Students in our region were forced to choose between UTME and WAEC exams due to poor scheduling,” the caucus said. “This contradicts Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates equal and adequate educational opportunities for all.”
The statement concluded by reiterating the call for full accountability, emphasizing that the educational rights of students must be protected, and that the credibility of Nigeria’s examination system must be restored.
By Makinde oyinkansola | May 19, 2025
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