JAMB faces unbundling calls as Oloyede’s exit nears

Education experts are demanding the unbundling of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as Ishaq Oloyede prepares to exit, arguing that splitting regulatory and operational roles will improve admission transparency and fix UTME glitches.

The demand comes as Oloyede’s tenure ends after reforms that restored exam integrity. But experts say gains would not outlast his administration without structural changes.

Nubi Achebo, director of academic planning at Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), emphasised the need for JAMB to be more flexible and transparent with the board’s admission process.

“Though Oloyede tried to fix exam integrity, going forward, JAMB should ensure admission fairness and transparency.

“Students don’t just want exams that work, but they want to know their real chances before spending N20,000 on post-UTME forms,” he said.

Achebo noted the need for a single “Admission Transparency Portal”, which means that JAMB insists that all universities upload their last three years’ data, indicating the number of applicants per course, the lowest aggregate admitted, the catchment and merit split.

Over the years, UTME candidates have complained that some centres still have power and network issues, besides malfunctioning PCs and extortion by JAMB staff.

Friday Erhabor, director of media and strategies at Marklenez Limited, called on the incoming registrar to build on the legacy of Oloyede by making UTME hitch-free.

“He should ensure that JAMB examinations are hitch-free as against technology glitches often witnessed during UTME examinations,” he said.

Stakeholders believe that JAMB needs stricter accreditation and real penalties, amid reports of biometric failures, result release delays, and inaccuracies, among others.

Stanley Alaubi, senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, expressed concerns over the irregularities in the tertiary admission system.

“How can there be a body like JAMB and universities are still conducting post-UTME after the board has conducted its exam.

“This, to me, is not right; either JAMB is not doing its job, or there is insubordination from the universities. This should be looked into,” he said.

Jessica Osuere, CEO at RubiesHub Educational Services, is worried the admission process remains complex and often confusing for candidates due to varying institutional requirements and multiple admission stages, and called on the new henchman to restructure it.

Besides, she agitated for a review of cut-off marks. “l think JAMB should just focus on simplifying the admission process, improving transparency, and ensuring greater consistency across institutions.

“More importantly, Nigeria must expand access to quality tertiary education as the persistent pressure on admissions is largely a result of limited spaces relative to the number of candidates seeking admission,” she said.

For a decade, Oloyede’s tenure at JAMB has been defined by sweeping reforms, improved revenue remittances, tighter examination processes, and an aggressive deployment of technology.

Oloyede was appointed the registrar of JAMB on August 9, 2016, amid the board grappling with credibility challenges, and lack of public trust over allegations of financial impropriety, weak accountability mechanisms, and admission irregularities.

Oloyede transformed the board within a space of time, as JAMB remitted only a modest sum to the federal government over several decades. Under his leadership, JAMB remitted an unprecedented N7.8 billion in 2017 alone.

Between 2016 and the present, the agency has reportedly paid over N20 billion in operating surplus to the federal government. These figures not only underscore prudent financial management but also challenge the long-held assumption that public institutions are incapable of operating efficiently.

Moreover, Oloyede contributed to the modernisation of Nigeria’s admission system. His tenure witnessed the consolidation of the computer-based test (CBT) model, which has helped to reduce examination malpractice and improve efficiency in the conduct of UTME.

While the transition to a fully digital examination system was not without challenges, it represented a necessary step toward aligning Nigeria’s assessment processes with global best practices.

In the face of his introduction of digitised examination, there were concerns over technical glitches, examination transparency, candidate welfare, and access to tertiary education.

Christopher Nmeribe, a teacher, emphasised that the success of UTME should be measured by whether it is helping to produce a fair, efficient, and quality tertiary education system.

“The new leadership should focus on strengthening the gains while addressing unresolved issues, such as the cut-off mark and the structure of admission.

“The idea of a single national cut-off mark has always been controversial; though a minimum benchmark is understandable, the current situation where a student may score above the national minimum but still be denied admission creates confusion,” he said.

Other stakeholders argue that the reliance on ICT created friction in less digitally compliant areas, requiring secondary adjustments to exam interfaces and schedules.

Besides, they say that exam malpractice did not disappear entirely but evolved. “Certain accredited CBT centres, rogue operators, and compromised security personnel occasionally attempted to bypass biometric verification or smuggle candidates in,” they noted.

Before the advent of JAMB, individual universities conducted their entrance examinations, resulting in multiple tests, duplication of processes, and discriminatory admission practices based on regional and ethnic biases.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s peers such as South Africa and Ghana, among others, do not have a centralised tertiary entrance examination. Instead, university admission is determined by a candidate’s high school leaving certificate and institutional requirements.