ABUJA – Mounting pressure for JAMB Registrar resignation comes from South East lawmakers in the House of Representatives. They have condemned the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as a “catastrophic institutional failure.” Caucus leader Igariwey Enwo revealed that massive technical breakdowns forced over 380,000 students to resit their exams.
The call for Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to step down has intensified. The South East Caucus of the House of Representatives is demanding his resignation, describing the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as nothing short of a “catastrophic institutional failure.”
Speaking for the caucus, leader Igariwey Enwo painted a stark picture. He explained that widespread technical failures disrupted the exams for over 380,000 candidates. These students then faced the ordeal of a resit. The lawmakers expressed their initial patience, hoping JAMB would provide effective solutions. Instead, they assert these failures have severely eroded public trust and shaken the confidence of students and their families across Nigeria.
JAMB Registrar Resignation Call Echoes Student Frustration
The lawmakers didn’t stop at the initial failures. They sharply criticized JAMB’s poor planning for the subsequent resit. A major point of contention is the scheduling clash between the UTME resit and ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams. Adding to the distress, students – many in the South East already navigating their WAEC papers – received less than 48 hours’ notice to appear for the rescheduled UTME.
This short notice, lawmakers reported, naturally led to low turnout at resit centers. Worse, it created direct conflicts with crucial WAEC papers, amplifying the stress and confusion for young people and their families. The caucus made it clear: apologies from JAMB, while noted, are not enough to address this level of disruption.
Beyond Resignation: Lawmakers Demand Full UTME Overhaul
The demand for JAMB Registrar resignation is central, but the South East lawmakers are pushing for broader changes:
- A complete cancellation of the troubled 2025 UTME.
- Setting a new UTME date only after the WAEC and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams conclude, to ensure a fair chance for all.
- The immediate suspension of JAMB officials who managed the digital operations during the exam period.
The caucus acknowledged that Prof. Oloyede had openly admitted to JAMB’s shortcomings. However, they firmly stated that the corrective measures taken so far are wholly inadequate for their constituents. His resignation, they argue, is a necessary step. It would pave the way for a thorough, independent investigation into the systemic failures and begin the work of restoring public faith in the vital examination body.
By Abiodun Labi
