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By Tracy Moses
The South East Caucus of the House of Representatives has launched a scathing attack on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), demanding the immediate resignation of its Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, over what they termed a “catastrophic collapse” in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a fiery statement released on Monday, the caucus, led by Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, accused JAMB of presiding over one of the worst examination debacles in Nigeria’s history, one that left nearly 380,000 candidates in chaos and despair, with the South East region, in particular, bearing the brunt of the botched exercise.
“Professor Oloyede himself admitted on May 14 that technical failures had sabotaged the UTME for over 379,997 candidates. This is a national disgrace,” the statement thundered. “The five South Eastern states were hit hardest, with rampant system crashes, conflicting score reports, and logistical nightmares.”
The lawmakers spared no words, describing the examination body’s response to the unfolding crisis as cold, confused, and deeply negligent. They slammed JAMB for overlapping UTME schedules with the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and for giving students barely 48 hours’ notice to retake exams in many cases, a decision they say threw families into panic and forced young Nigerians into avoidable failure.
“This isn’t just a blunder it’s educational sabotage,” the caucus declared. “And it must not go unpunished.”
Calling for the immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME in its entirety, the caucus proposed that a new date be set, one that respects the academic calendars of other examination bodies like WAEC and NECO. They also demanded the immediate suspension of all JAMB officials responsible for ICT infrastructure and logistics, pending a thorough and independent investigation.
“Professor Oloyede may have admitted failure, but admission without action is meaningless,” the lawmakers said. “Resignation is not just a moral obligation, it’s the first step towards justice for the thousands of students betrayed by a broken system.”
The lawmakers also cited the Nigerian Constitution, reminding the public that Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees equal and adequate educational opportunities for all citizens. “What JAMB has done is not only unethical, it is unconstitutional,” they insisted.
According to them, the government’s silence over the JAMB debacle is a dangerous endorsement of failure. “We waited in silence, hoping JAMB would show remorse and initiative. What we got instead was arrogance, confusion, and an absence of leadership.”
In concluding, the caucus warned that without accountability, public trust in the integrity of national examinations will continue to erode, with dire consequences for Nigeria’s future.
“This isn’t merely an education crisis,” they said, “it is a national emergency. And someone must be held responsible.”