From Damola Adeloye, Ibadan
Chieftain of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the South West, Ambassador Olufemi Oguntoyinbo has flayed 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.
It would be recalled that there were reports of a candidate who scored 150, but days after the examination, he 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 Faith, 19 years, allegedly killed herself with poison. She had scored 190 and could not understand the reason having read day and night.
However, on Wednesday, JAMB acknowledged discrepancies in the results of some candidates who took the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Its Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, addressed the findings, apologising for the errors and taking full responsibility.
He announced that candidates from 157 out of 882 examination centers would be given a chance to retake the test, with the rescheduled examination starting on Friday, May 16.
Ajadi, in a statement yesterday, condemned the shoddy conduct of the examination which is the only avenue for millions of students to enter universities, polytechnics and colleges of education of their choice.
Ajadi said the excuse by the registrar and his apology cannot save those who have died and millions of students whose future are being destroyed, noting that the rescheduled examination for the affected students within a short time is not the best.
He called on the federal government through the Ministry of Education to institute a probe into JAMB’s activities which led to the recent embarrassment, saying those found culpable should be punished.
According to the statement, ” The recent admission of errors by JAMB in the conduct of this year’s UTME is an embarrassment to the nation. JAMB, has through its inefficiency, caused sorrow for families who lost their loved ones as a result of frustration.
“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. It should also consider a means of decentralise the matriculation examination, as it seems that JAMB is overburdened. The resit should not be rushed. JAMB should give more time to avoid similar mistakes.”
