The South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the immediate resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, over what the lawmakers described as a “catastrophic institutional failure” in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The lawmakers’ demand was conveyed in a statement signed by Honourable Igariwey Enwo, citing widespread technical failures that affected nearly 380,000 candidates across the country — with the South-East particularly hit hard by the disruption.
“Last week, particularly on May 14, 2025, the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, publicly admitted that due to a ‘technical glitch’ at some examination centres during the 2025 UTME, approximately 379,997 out of 1.9 million candidates would be required to retake the exam,” the statement read.
The caucus expressed concern over the impact on students from the five South-Eastern states, noting that “all five South Eastern states we represent were directly affected by these so-called ‘score distortions.’”
Despite initially holding back from public criticism, the lawmakers said JAMB’s efforts to correct the failure have been grossly inadequate.
“We have exercised restraint, hoping JAMB would provide effective remedial measures to address this catastrophic institutional failure — one that has severely shaken public trust and the confidence of students and families nationwide,” the statement continued.
While acknowledging the Registrar’s honesty, the lawmakers insisted more decisive action was required.
“While we acknowledge Professor Oloyede’s openness in admitting JAMB’s failings, we must state unequivocally that the remedial steps taken so far fall drastically short of our constituents’ expectations.”
The caucus slammed what it described as JAMB’s hasty rescheduling of the affected exams.
“JAMB’s knee-jerk, fire-brigade approach has been anything but adequate. Students in the South East — many of whom are currently writing their WAEC exams — were given less than 48 hours’ notice to appear for the rescheduled UTME. Reports indicate this was grossly inadequate, leading to a low turnout.”
“In some cases, the rescheduled UTME clashed directly with ongoing WAEC papers, compounding distress for students and families.”
They further stressed JAMB’s constitutional responsibility to uphold fairness in access to education.
“We remind Nigerians that JAMB, as a government agency, is duty-bound to uphold its fundamental obligations. Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution states: ‘Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.’”
“Recent judicial rulings now make this an enforceable right for every Nigerian child. Sadly, for thousands of students in the South East, the flawed and tainted conduct of the 2025 UTME has effectively denied them that right.”
The House caucus’ position echoes a similar sentiment expressed by the South East Senate Caucus, who also criticized the examination board’s handling of the situation. In a separate statement signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), the Senators described the incident as a reflection of “hateful politics” and “narrow parochial considerations.”
“It would be disheartening — and we hope not to contemplate such a conspiracy theory — that there is a narrow agenda being pursued to deliberately shortchange and harm the future of our children.”
Senator Abaribe also warned of the broader consequences of such failures:
“The so-called glitch, as curious and suspicious as it was, is enough to erode confidence and dangerously lower national pride among the future generation.”
The Senate caucus urged national education agencies to resist political bias in policy implementation.
“The relevant national education drivers must recognize the inherent danger of injecting hateful politics and narrow parochial considerations into policy formulation and implementation.”
“That the glitch occurred across the entire South East raises pertinent questions that JAMB must answer to assuage the growing frustrations and fears among our people — particularly the children who are directly affected. We must pursue a Nigerian agenda, not a narrow one that undermines national unity.”
“Education remains one of the most important bedrocks of societal advancement. It is a key index of development across all facets of life. Every child is entitled to quality education, and we must not gamble with it.”
