NNPP chieftain, Ajadi, slams JAMB over UTME failure
BY ADEGBOYEGA STEPHEN
A South-West chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called for decentralisation of entrance examinations into universities and other higher institutions.
He also descended on the management of the Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the “shoddy handling” of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME), saying “they are not fit to occupy the offices they are holding.”
Recall that there were reports of a candidate who scored 150 in the matriculation examinations, but days after the examination, he had checked again, following public outcry, and found out that his mark had been reduced to 120.
Also, at Odogunyan in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, one 19-year-old Faith allegedly killed herself with poison.
She had scored 190 and reportedly got depressed for not making required mark.
However, on Wednesday, JAMB acknowledged discrepancies in the results of some candidates who took the UTME.
JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, addressed the findings, apologising for the errors and taking full responsibility.
He announced that candidates from 157 out of 882 examination centres would be given a chance to retake the test, with the rescheduled exams starting on Friday, 16 May 2025.
Ajadi, in a statement on Friday, condemned “the shoddy” conduct of the examination “which is the only avenue for millions of students to enter universities, polytechnics and the colleges of education.
He said the “excuse” by the JAMB Registrar and his apology could not save those who had died and millions of students whose future were being destroyed, noting that the reschedule of resit for the affected students “within a short time,” was not the best way for students to prepare for examination.
He called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, to institute a probe into JAMB activities which he said led to “the recent embarrassment,” saying those found culpable should be punished.
“The recent admission of errors by JAMB in the conduct of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME) is an embarrassment to the nation.
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“JAMB has, through its inefficiency, caused sorrow for families who lost their loved ones as a result of frustration in the recent conduct of the exams.
“While I sympathise with the families who lost their loved ones and millions whose children’s future have been trampled upon, I call on government to get to the root of the matter.
“Government should also consider a means of decentralising the matriculation examination in the country, as it seems that JAMB is overburdened. The resit examination should not be rushed. JAMB should give more time, to avoid similar mistakes,” he said.
