UTME: Reno Omokri defends JAMB amid backlash

Nigerian socio-political commentator, Reno Omokri, has called on citizens to show more understanding toward public institutions such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging critics to consider the enormous logistical challenges these bodies face.

In a post shared via his social media platforms, Omokri defended both JAMB and INEC against growing backlash over operational setbacks and alleged inefficiencies, noting that managing large-scale national processes in a country like Nigeria is far from simple.

Referring to the ongoing controversy surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Omokri highlighted the numerous issues that plagued the exercise, including score discrepancies, technical glitches, mass cancellations, and widespread reports of exam malpractice. He reminded Nigerians that despite only having to cater to about 1.5 million candidates annually, JAMB still struggles with logistical bottlenecks.

“Do you see how challenging it is for JAMB to hold exams for only 1.5 million students annually?” he wrote. “The logistical difficulties they face, the hiccups in releasing results, the cancellation of results owing to exam malpractice, and the glitches at some centres, forcing JAMB to cancel exams at 157 centres nationwide.”

Omokri referenced the emotional breakdown of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who reportedly shed tears while apologizing to the nation for the challenges surrounding this year’s UTME. He used the moment to draw a broader comparison with INEC’s operations.

“If JAMB struggles with 1.5 million students, how much more INEC conducting simultaneous elections for 93 million registered voters? Yet many believe elections should be flawless and condemn INEC when things do not go as planned,” Omokri argued.

He called for a more balanced perspective, stressing that both examinations and elections are complex undertakings, especially in a country with institutional distrust and systemic sabotage.

“Even in the United States, there are issues with elections despite their advanced technology. Some people attacking JAMB and INEC cannot even handle a WhatsApp forum with five members,” he added.

Omokri’s comments have stirred mixed reactions online, with some agreeing that national institutions deserve more support and others insisting that accountability should not be compromised.