The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organization, has strongly criticized calls for the resignation of Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing such demands as “callous, ridiculous, and unpatriotic.”
In a statement released on Friday and signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC expressed disapproval over recent criticisms from the South East caucus of the House of Representatives and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) branch. Both groups had urged Oloyede to step down following technical issues experienced during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in some parts of the country.
MURIC denounced these calls, labelling them as ethnically motivated and lacking objectivity. “Our lawmakers and academics should rise above tribal sentiments. It is regrettable that such respected institutions would resort to parochial criticisms rather than constructive engagement,” the statement said.
Highlighting Professor Oloyede’s achievements, MURIC praised his leadership at JAMB, noting the agency’s financial turnaround under his tenure. The organization cited the over N50 billion remitted to the federal government in the last seven years, figures that sharply contrast with the N52 million returned in the four decades prior to Oloyede’s appointment. Specifically, it referenced remittances of N3.51 billion in 2021 and N6 billion in 2024.
MURIC further pointed out that JAMB, under Oloyede, has become self-sustaining and no longer requires federal allocations, a rarity among government agencies. “Is this the kind of public servant we should be asking to resign?” the statement questioned. “How many agencies have matched this level of transparency and efficiency?”
Addressing the ASUU-UNN’s threat of legal action, MURIC dismissed it as an attempt to undermine integrity and reward mediocrity. “Such actions aim to tarnish the image of a man who has become a symbol of reform in Nigeria’s educational sector,” the organization stated.
MURIC urged Professor Oloyede to ignore the calls for his resignation, describing them as distractions from individuals with questionable motives. “Our message to him is to remain steadfast and not be discouraged by detractors. His continued service is a beacon of hope to many Nigerians,” the statement concluded.
