From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for what it termed “exceptional transparency and accountability” in addressing the challenges arising from the just concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The NOA, in a statement by the Deputy Director, Media and Communication, Paul Odenyi, said JAMB’s open acknowledgement of its lapses was a rare and commendable act of leadership, one that reflected a deep sense of institutional responsibility.
“The Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, lauded the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for demonstrating the kind of integrity and courage that public leadership demands.
He noted that this act of forthrightness is not only a testament to Professor Oloyede’s personal values, but also aligned with the principles of the National Values Charter (NVC), which enjoins all public institutions to operate with the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
Mallam Onilu, however, emphasised the need for JAMB to go a step further by initiating remedial measures that directly address the concerns of candidates, parents and other stakeholders affected by the errors.
He said: “While recognition of mistakes is the first step, redemption and restitution are other necessary steps to be taken. Having decided to provide another opportunity to the candidates as a way of redeeming the errors, it is imperative that JAMB considers appropriate compensation to mitigate the stress and anxiety these candidates may have suffered.”
He further emphasised that the NOA remained unwavering in its commitment to promoting a governance culture anchored in trust, integrity and mutual respect between citizens and institutions.
“JAMB’s example should serve as a model for other public institutions. When institutions own their mistakes and act to correct them, they earn the respect and confidence of the people,” the NOA DG stated.
Taking a look at the Citizen Codes under the National Values Charter, he reiterated that leadership is a collective responsibility.
“Every citizen, whether in public service or private life, has a duty to uphold the core values of integrity, accountability and transparency. These values are not optional; they are the pillars of a just and equitable society,” he also said.
He reaffirmed the resolve of the agency to continue its advocacy for responsible leadership and value-driven citizenship, while further noting that the Agency’s campaign to entrench the ideals of the National Values Charter across all levels of society would remain a central focus, as Nigeria strove toward a more ethical, inclusive and responsible governance culture.