Former presidential candidate and Labour Party chieftain, Mr. Peter Obi, has lauded the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for his rare show of accountability in publicly acknowledging the technical hitches that marred the recently released JAMB results.
Obi made the commendation via a statement shared on his official X account, where he also expressed deep concern over the alarming pattern of technological failures within critical national institutions.
In the statement, the former Anambra State Governor described Prof. Oloyede’s open admission of fault and public apology over the glitches that affected the results of 379,997 candidates as a courageous and commendable gesture. He noted that such honesty is becoming increasingly scarce in Nigeria’s public service sphere.
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“I recently watched the heartfelt press conference delivered by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in which he acknowledged that technical glitches had affected the recently released JAMB results, impacting 379,997 candidates. His open admission of fault and the expression of deep remorse stand out as a rare but commendable display of accountability in our public institutions”, Obi said.
However, while acknowledging JAMB’s swift response to the issue, Obi emphasized that the incident underscores a much larger and disturbing issue — the persistent vulnerability of Nigeria’s institutional systems. He warned that if left unchecked, these “glitches” could snowball into a national crisis.
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He said, “But it raises a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc it’s creating in our country, even in critical institutions like JAMB.”
According to Obi, the psychological and emotional trauma endured by students and their families cannot be overlooked. He pointed out reports of severe mental distress and, in tragic instances, the loss of lives linked to the complications arising from the examination flaws.
“The integrity of examination processes and the reliability of public institutions are not optional; they are foundational to any nation’s progress,” Obi stated, stressing that the stakes are too high for repeated failures to be tolerated.
He therefore called for the urgent implementation of robust quality assurance mechanisms within JAMB and similar institutions. These, he noted, should include thorough testing, continuous auditing of digital infrastructure, and a commitment to clear and timely communication with the public.
“JAMB and similar critical bodies must adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks. This includes rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure.
Moreover, transparent communication with candidates and stakeholders, coupled with the prompt resolution of arising issues, is essential to restoring public confidence,” Obi asserted.
Obi also emphasized the need for public bodies to be proactive in resolving issues and in restoring trust, insisting that Nigeria cannot afford another such breakdown.
“There must be no room for further glitches, not in JAMB, not in any arm of government. The cost of repeated failure is simply too high,” he warned.
