• Nigerians criticise short notice for rescheduled exams
• Obi warns against institutional failures as Ezekwesili knocks JAMB over errors
• COEASU urges public officials to emulate registrar’s accountability
• We should commend, not crucify Oloyede, says Ezeilo
• Reps urges FG to establish CBT centres in 774 LGAs
Undeterred by the apology, tears, and admission of responsibility from the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the technical malfunction that marred the recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In addition, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to mandate JAMB to release the results of all candidates below the age of 16 who participated in the examination.
They also called for the establishment of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in all 774 local government areas of the country to ease the difficulties faced by candidates during examinations.
On Wednesday, JAMB admitted to a technical error that affected the integrity of results from 157 centres nationwide. The announcement followed public outrage over the release of results on May 9, which revealed that over 78 per cent of candidates scored below 200 out of a maximum of 400 points.
Oloyede disclosed during a press conference in Abuja that the results of 379,997 candidates were impacted due to the error. He assured the public that affected candidates would have the opportunity to retake the examination between today and May 19, 2025.
The lawmakers’ resolutions were adopted following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Morufu Adewale Adebayo, who represents Irepodun/Olorunda/Osogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency in Osun State.
Adebayo, while presenting the motion, highlighted the challenges faced by candidates, including long-distance travel to examination centres, which he said had resulted in fatal accidents. He argued that inadequate access to exam centres and logistical stress were significant contributors to the mass failure recorded in the 2025 UTME.
He warned that failing to address the grievances surrounding this year’s examination could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s education sector.
Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency in Katsina, commended Oloyede for his transparency, stating that the JAMB Registrar had demonstrated integrity and boosted the board’s revenue contributions to the national treasury since his appointment.
However, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, emphasised that it was up to the committee conducting the investigation to determine whether commendations for JAMB were appropriate.
Ohanaeze youths reject rescheduled exam, demand 300 scores for S’East candidates
The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide rejected the decision by JAMB to conduct a fresh examination for candidates affected by the glitch.
In a statement issued yesterday, the group’s National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, described JAMB’s decision as “totally unacceptable” and demanded that 300 scores be awarded to all affected candidates from the South-East.
Okwu criticised the plan to reschedule the exam, arguing that it would subject candidates to unnecessary stress, risk, and financial burden.
“We want to state unequivocally that our people will not accept any fresh examination, having already been subjected to mental torture by JAMB. The candidates are not in the right frame of mind to undergo another examination, having faced mental torture ever since the fake results were announced,” he said.
He further questioned who would bear the cost of the rescheduled exam, highlighting the financial difficulties faced by parents and the risks of travelling in a country grappling with insecurity.
The group alleged deliberate bias against the South-East, asserting that the errors were a ploy to deny the region’s candidates educational opportunities.
“We demand that JAMB should allocate 300 scores to all the South-East candidates affected by its error. Igbo are very brilliant people and could have made 300 and above,” Okwu added.
He warned that the group would take legal action if JAMB failed to meet their demands. “Should JAMB fail to heed to our request, we shall not hesitate to drag them to court. No form of crocodile tears by the Registrar will save the Board,” Okwu stated.
NANS demands registrar’s resignation
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) called for Oloyede’s resignation.
In a statement released yesterday by its National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, NANS described the errors as a “damning indictment of the institution’s incompetence.”
Reacting to JAMB’s admission, Adeyemi criticised the board for negligence, stating that it had caused severe psychological distress to affected students. He referenced the tragic case of a student in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State who reportedly committed suicide over her UTME score.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students is outraged by the unforgivable negligence of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which has resulted in widespread despair among Nigerian students and, most tragically, the loss of a promising young life in Lagos,” Adeyemi said.
“JAMB’s admission of errors in the released UTME results, particularly in Lagos and five South-East states, is a damning indictment of the institution’s incompetence. This catastrophic failure has shattered the dreams of countless students, subjected them to untold psychological distress, and, in this case, driven a young scholar to the ultimate despair.
“This is not just an administrative lapse; it is an institutional disgrace,” he added.
Nigerians criticise short notice for rescheduled exams
Nigerians have criticised the short notice given to candidates for the rescheduled UTME.
JAMB announced that 379,997 candidates from five South-East states and Lagos will retake the exam, starting today, May 16, 2025.
Many candidates and stakeholders expressed concerns about the candidates’ preparedness due to the limited notice. Some suggested that the resit should have been scheduled after the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to allow candidates adequate time to prepare.
“I don’t understand why JAMB couldn’t push the exam to after WAEC,” a social media user stated. Another, identified as Gospel on X, added, “These students are not running away. Give them ample time to prepare.”
General Pushkin, also commenting on X, questioned the timing of the rescheduled exam. “Aren’t these students the same ones writing WASSCE and NECO? Why complicate their situation? JAMB should allow resits after WAEC. It should be optional.”
Others highlighted the economic and emotional toll on the candidates. “You know the economic hardship in Nigeria,” one commenter wrote. “Why not give them more time to recover and plan to write the exam?” Another, Ka-sha-mi, said, “The emotional trauma these kids went through has to heal. They are not in the right frame of mind to resit in such a short time. Haba!”
John Felix, a biology teacher and one of the affected candidates, confirmed receiving a text message from JAMB about the rescheduled date and time. He raised concerns over a clash with another examination scheduled for the same day.
While some suggested that JAMB should have re-marked the exams instead of administering a resit, others defended the decision. Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, argued that rescheduling the exam was necessary to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Onyia explained that JAMB faced significant scheduling challenges due to the ongoing WASSCE and the approaching National Examinations Council (NECO) exams. “When all internal attempts failed, they reached out to WAEC for support, and thankfully, WAEC responded with tremendous cooperation,” Onyia posted on X.
Acknowledging the tight timeline, Onyia urged candidates to remain calm and focused, assuring that JAMB is working to address the issue fairly.
Peter Obi warns against institutional failures as Ezekwesili criticises JAMB over errors
Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has cautioned against allowing technical failures in public institutions to escalate into national crises.
In a statement issued yesterday, Obi addressed the technical error that compromised results from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
He commended JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, for his honesty and remorse but raised concerns about the reliability of Nigeria’s public institutions.
“Let’s not make glitches become a national crisis,” Obi stated. He emphasised that while JAMB’s swift response and willingness to acknowledge its shortcomings are commendable, the incident highlights deeper issues.
“While JAMB’s swift response and willingness to own up to its shortcomings are worthy of recognition, the incident has brought to light a far more troubling reality: the persistent fragility of our institutional systems. It raises a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc it’s creating in our country, even in critical institutions like JAMB,” he added.
Obi noted that the consequences of the error extend beyond data loss, urging JAMB and similar agencies to implement stronger oversight and control measures.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, criticised JAMB for its handling of the technical glitch.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, she questioned the board’s initial response to complaints and called for professionalism.
“Why could the authorities not have immediately acted with humility and done an unbiased and swift system check once unusual trends emerged instead of immediately impugning citizens who expressed concern?” Ezekwesili asked.
She further criticised the Ministry of Education and JAMB for their “pejorative non-evidence-based explanation” regarding the unusually low UTME scores in five South-East states.
“Technical matters must always be examined with professionalism, and that has sadly disappeared in the toxic atmosphere created by incompetent and dishonest politicians and intellectuals who should know better,” Ezekwesili said.
COEASU urges public officials to emulate registrar’s accountability
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has called on public officials to adopt the spirit of accountability and transparency in their responsibilities.
COEASU President, Dr Smart Olugbeko, appealed yesterday in Abuja while expressing sympathy for the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, over the technical errors that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. He also expressed solidarity with students and parents affected by the incident.
“We acknowledge that JAMB has made significant strides in recent years, leveraging technology to enhance the examination process. However, the recent errors highlight the limitations of technology and the need for diligence and care in its deployment,” Olugbeko said.
He compared the situation to the Nigerian Army’s use of technology in combating terrorism, which has occasionally led to unintended harm to civilians, emphasising the importance of caution in such applications.
Olugbeko commended Oloyede’s honesty in admitting the errors and taking responsibility, describing it as a rare quality among public officials. He lauded Oloyede’s efforts to address the issues, contrasting this with the tendency of some public officers to deny responsibility despite overwhelming evidence.
He cited the example of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which he described as riddled with corruption and inefficiencies, yet its proponents failed to acknowledge its flaws. “We call on these individuals to take a cue from Prof Oloyede’s example and own up to their errors,” he said.
Olugbeko praised Oloyede’s commitment to integrity, accountability, and leadership, describing it as a positive model for other public servants.
The union urged JAMB to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure that all affected candidates nationwide are allowed to participate in the resit examination. It also called for adequate measures to prevent a recurrence of the errors.
We should commend, not crucify Oloyede, says Ezeilo
Former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, has called on Nigerians to acknowledge the contrition of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, rather than condemning him for the recent technical issues that affected the board’s system.
Reacting to the incident, Ezeilo said: “As an educator, I find it inconceivable to attribute over sixty per cent of these failures to a lack of intelligence among students or to dismiss them as a declining interest in education among today’s youth.”
She emphasised the need for a gradual introduction of new technologies in examinations traditionally conducted in written form.
“The key takeaway is that the introduction of new technologies for traditionally written exams should be gradual. This process should begin by providing choices and should span at least five to ten years before entirely phasing out handwritten JAMB entrance or other public exams. Such a phased approach will ensure a smoother transition and greater inclusivity for all students,” she explained.
Ezeilo commended JAMB’s leadership for taking responsibility for the widespread failures, attributing them partly to the introduction of new technologies unfamiliar to many candidates.
She also highlighted the challenges posed by the digital divide in the country. “In a country as polarised as ours, with evident disparities between the rich and the poor, urban and rural areas, and between genders, it is inconsiderate to implement such an exam policy without addressing these issues, particularly the digital divide,” she said.
According to Ezeilo, this digital divide is more pronounced in rural areas and among women and girls, leading to significant gaps in both knowledge and practical use of technology.
