By OBSERVERS TIMES.
The South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the resignation of Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), following what they described as a “catastrophic institutional failure” during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement signed by Honourable Igariwey Enwo, the lawmakers strongly condemned JAMB over technical glitches that disrupted the exams, affecting nearly 380,000 candidates—many of whom are now required to retake the test.
“On May 14, 2025, Professor Oloyede admitted that due to a technical fault at some exam centres, approximately 379,997 candidates out of 1.9 million will have to resit the UTME,” the statement read. “All five South-Eastern states represented by this caucus were directly impacted by these so-called ‘score distortions.’”
The caucus expressed disappointment with JAMB’s response, noting that despite a week of restraint and expectation for effective remedial action, the measures implemented have been inadequate.
“We hoped for a comprehensive solution but what we got was a knee-jerk, fire-brigade reaction that fell far short of expectations,” the statement added.
The lawmakers criticized the rushed rescheduling of the exams, highlighting that many affected students in the South East were given less than 48 hours’ notice to appear for the makeup UTME. This rescheduling also clashed with ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams, creating further challenges for students.
“Many candidates had to choose between two critical exams, compounding the stress faced by students and their families,” the caucus lamented.
Emphasizing JAMB’s constitutional duty, the statement reminded the public of Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the government to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities for all Nigerians.
“Thousands of students in the South East have effectively been denied this right due to the flawed conduct of the 2025 UTME,” the statement concluded.
The House caucus’s position aligns with a similar stance taken earlier by the South-East Senate Caucus. In a separate statement signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), the Senate group suggested that the glitches might be the result of “hateful politics” and “narrow parochial considerations,” warning of a potential conspiracy to undermine the region’s youth.
The senators urged national educational authorities to resist political interference and prioritize a unifying national agenda focused on equitable education.
“The occurrence of this glitch predominantly across the South East demands clear answers from JAMB to restore confidence and allay fears,” the Senate statement said. “Education is fundamental to societal progress, and no child’s future should be gambled with.”
