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 what it described as a “catastrophic institutional failure” in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The position was conveyed in a statement signed by Honourable Igariwey Enwo, as the lawmakers strongly criticised JAMB for the technical glitches that affected nearly 380,000 candidates — many of whom are now required to resit the exam.
“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.”
“As a caucus, we are deeply concerned, as all five South Eastern states we represent were directly affected by these so-called ‘score distortions.’”
The caucus noted that despite exercising restraint over the past week in hopes that JAMB would introduce effective remedial measures, the response has fallen short.
“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.”
“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 statement went on to criticise the rushed rescheduling of the 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.”
The caucus emphasised that JAMB, as a government agency, has a constitutional responsibility to ensure fairness in educational opportunities.
“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.”
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The statement echoed a similar position earlier adopted by the South-East Caucus of the Nigerian Senate.
In a separate statement issued Saturday in Abuja, the South East Senators, under the aegis of the South East Senate Caucus, blamed the incident on “hateful politics” and “narrow parochial considerations.”
The statement, signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), alleged a possible conspiracy aimed at undermining the future of children in the region.
“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.”
“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 bodies to avoid political interference in educational policy:
“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,” the statement concluded.