Senate Minority Whip asks JAMB To Extend Rescheduled UTME By 2 Weeks

Senate Minority Whip and lawmaker representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Sen. Osita Ngwu, has urged the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to increase the timeframe for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination(UTME) for students who are to re-write the examination. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Wednesday, said, 379,997 candidates in […]

Senate Minority Whip and lawmaker representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Sen. Osita Ngwu, has urged the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to increase the timeframe for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination(UTME) for students who are to re-write the examination.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Wednesday, said, 379,997 candidates in the five states of the South East and Lagos will be rescheduled for another Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination.

Oloyede who accepted responsibility for the circumstances leading to the failure by the affected candidates, said they will start getting text messages from the Board starting Thursday.

“The affected candidates will start getting text messages for reschedule starting from tomorrow. I apologise, I take full responsibility,” he said.

In his reaction, the principal officer, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on tertiary institutions, commended JAMB for admitting they were at fault, but said the 48-hour timeline was grossly inadequate for the traumatised students.

Sen. Ngwu in a statement released on the heels of JAMB registrar’s acceptance of responsibility for unfortunate situation said a minimum two-week window is good for proper academic and emotional recovery.

According to the lawmaker, the 3000 students he trained under the Enugu West academy that were affected by the technical glitch are traumatised and can’t go into the examination and perform well within the period of two days.

“I commend JAMB but we need to address the issue of giving students less than 48 hours to prepare for such a critical exam—especially after the trauma caused by JAMB. I don’t believe JAMB is being fair in this regard.”

“Rescheduling alone is not enough. A minimum two-week window is good for proper academic and emotional recovery. This is about fairness, not just logistics.

“I have 3000 students I trained under Enugu West academy that were affected by the technical glitch and it’s been traumatic for the kids. With the vigorously preparation we accorded them, if a level field was provided they would have perform excellently well.

“Therefore, I call on JAMB to increase the timeframe for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination(UTME) f by at least two weeks to enable the candidates recollect themselves for the exercise.”