The South-East Caucus of the House of Representatives has demanded the immediate resignation of Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), over what they described as “unforgivable system failures” that plagued the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) nationwide.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the lawmakers decried widespread technological and logistical breakdowns that disrupted the dreams of thousands of Nigerian students—particularly in the South-East region. They described the situation as a “national embarrassment,” squarely blaming the JAMB leadership for the fiasco.
Leading the charge, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji (APGA, Anambra) condemned the conduct of the exams, describing it as a “betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of Nigerian youths.” He recounted reports of system crashes, poor internet connectivity, and sudden cancellations of scheduled exams in several CBT centres across Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states, which left students stranded and devastated.
“These are not just technical hitches,” Umeoji said. “They reflect deeper administrative failure. Students who arrived as early as 6 a.m. were later told their exams had been cancelled due to network failure. How do you explain this chaos to parents who sacrificed everything to prepare their children for these exams? We must not normalize this level of incompetence.”
Emphasizing that their concern transcends regional sentiment, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu) pointed out that the UTME failures were widespread across the country, though particularly intense in the South-East due to poor infrastructure and oversight. He stressed the need for decisive leadership to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system.
“Professor Oloyede has had his time and initiated commendable reforms,” Nnaji stated. “But this year’s failure signals a collapse under his watch. The system has clearly lost control, and continuing in silence would mean endorsing failure.”
Multiple reports from affected states painted a bleak picture: candidates locked out of centres, postponed exams with no prior notice, and conflicting information on reprinted slips. In Owerri, irate parents staged protests outside a CBT centre following repeated exam failures, demanding answers from officials who appeared overwhelmed and unprepared.
Civil society organizations have also voiced their outrage. The Education Rights Advocacy Network (ERAN) backed the lawmakers’ demands, calling for an overhaul of JAMB’s leadership and operational model.
“This year’s UTME is arguably the most disgraceful in recent history,” ERAN said in a statement. “It is not enough to acknowledge glitches—there must be accountability. Nigerian youths deserve better.”
Beyond demanding Oloyede’s resignation, the South-East caucus proposed a full audit of JAMB’s conduct during the 2025 UTME. They also called for the establishment of an independent investigative panel under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education to determine the causes of the failures and recommend sustainable reforms.
Furthermore, the lawmakers urged JAMB to make immediate provisions for affected candidates to retake their examinations without additional cost or psychological stress.
“No child should suffer twice for the failures of adults,” said Hon. Obinna Aguocha (LP, Abia). “We must build systems that work and restore the faith of our youth in public institutions.”
In response, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, acknowledged the disruptions but insisted the board had deployed contingency measures and rescheduled exams where necessary. “We regret the difficulties and remain committed to continuous improvement,” he said.
However, the board has not addressed the growing calls for Professor Oloyede’s resignation, fueling speculation and concern over the depth of the crisis.
The South-East caucus pledged to escalate the matter to the House floor, with plans to present a motion of urgent national importance. The lawmakers emphasized that their aim is not to destroy institutions but to ensure meaningful reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.
As tension lingers, the nation is left to ponder a critical question: will Nigeria finally hold its education administrators accountable, or will another generation of students be failed by the system meant to empower them?
