Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The South East Caucus in Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called for the resignation of Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), following significant technical glitches during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). These glitches affected approximately 379,997 candidates, predominantly in Lagos and the South East, necessitating a resit of the examination.
Truth Live News gathered that the key issues highlighted are:
Firstly, JAMB acknowledged that faulty server updates disrupted the uploading of candidates’ responses, leading to widespread discrepancies in scores. This issue was particularly pronounced in 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in the South East.
Secondly, the rescheduled exams were set between May 16 and May 18, 2025, with less than 48 hours’ notice. This short notice led to scheduling conflicts with ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams, causing distress among students and families.
The caucus emphasized that mere apologies are insufficient. They argue that Professor Oloyede’s resignation would allow for an independent review of the failures and help restore public confidence in JAMB.
Some stakeholders have alleged that the errors disproportionately affected candidates from the South East, suggesting a deliberate attempt to undermine the region’s educational prospects.
Dr. Christian Okeke, a senior lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, also called for Professor Oloyede’s resignation, stating that the mass failure recorded in the 2025 UTME is unacceptable.
Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) demanded the registrar’s resignation, citing the psychological distress caused to students and the potential derailment of their academic futures.
Professor Oloyede publicly apologized for the technical failures and took full responsibility. He assured that affected candidates would be contacted and allowed to retake the examination at no extra cost.
Despite assurances from JAMB that the rescheduled UTME would not clash with WAEC exams, reports indicate that the short notice led to low turnout and scheduling conflicts, further exacerbating the situation.
The 2025 UTME technical glitches have sparked widespread criticism and calls for systemic reforms within JAMB. The South East Caucus’s demands add to the need for accountability and the restoration of public trust in Nigeria’s examination bodies.