The South East Caucus of 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 it described as a “monumental failure” in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, the caucus—led by Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo—criticized JAMB for the widespread technical failures that disrupted the exams for nearly 380,000 candidates. They noted that the five states in the South East region were disproportionately affected by the disruptions.
The lawmakers expressed dismay over JAMB’s handling of the situation, citing poor communication, a scheduling conflict with the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and inadequate notice given to students rescheduled to retake the exam.
“On May 14, 2025, Professor Oloyede admitted publicly that serious technical malfunctions had occurred at several exam centres, requiring 379,997 of the 1.9 million UTME candidates to retake the test,” the statement read. “All five South East states experienced significant disruptions and inconsistencies in test results.”
The caucus condemned JAMB’s response to the crisis, describing it as uncoordinated and lacking in empathy and accountability. “We refrained from commenting earlier in the hope that JAMB would offer a transparent and responsible resolution. Instead, what we’ve seen is a failure to act decisively or compassionately,” the statement continued.
The group demanded the complete cancellation of the 2025 UTME and called for a new exam date that would not clash with WASSCE or NECO timetables. They also urged the immediate suspension of senior JAMB officials in charge of digital infrastructure and logistics.
While they acknowledged Professor Oloyede’s admission of fault, the lawmakers insisted that real accountability must follow. They argued that his resignation is necessary to allow for an independent investigation and to restore public trust in the examination process.
The statement also emphasized the constitutional obligation of government institutions to ensure equitable access to education. According to the lawmakers, JAMB’s mismanagement of the UTME process has effectively denied many students in the South East their right to fair educational opportunities.
“JAMB’s response has been reactive and fundamentally flawed. In many cases, students currently writing their WAEC exams were given less than 48 hours’ notice to retake the UTME, resulting in scheduling clashes, low turnout, and further confusion,” they stated.
Citing Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels, the caucus concluded: “This is not a mere policy goal—it is a constitutional right. Through its actions, JAMB has failed thousands of students in the South East, denying them this right.”
