Tutorial Schools Want JAMB Registrar Fixed to a Single Five-Year Term — What This Means
Operators of tutorial and coaching centres have renewed a call to the Federal Government to limit the tenure of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registrar to a single, non-renewable five-year term. The demand is framed as a push for stronger accountability and to prevent what the operators describe as the risks that accompany prolonged service in the office.
The call was made public after interviews with leaders of tutorial school associations in Oyo State, where the Secretary of the Association of Tutorial School Operators, Ogundokun Olufunso, argued that allowing registrars to remain in office for two consecutive terms undermines oversight and gives room for complacency and potential loopholes. The original report of the interviews appeared in national outlets covering education and public affairs. 0
Why tutorial operators want a single, non-renewable term
The argument from tutorial operators rests on three main contentions. First, they say long tenures can breed overconfidence among incumbents and reduce incentives for regular performance reviews and reform. Second, they claim repeated renewals discourage fresh ideas and institutional change. Third, they link prolonged tenures to weaker transparency for stakeholders — including parents, schools, and small businesses (such as cybercafés and private tutorial centres) that depend on JAMB processes for their livelihoods.
Ogundokun told reporters that “five years is enough,” adding that a 10-year stretch is excessive for a single executive of a national examination body. His concerns reflect a wider conversation about term limits for public officeholders and how tenure length affects institutional behaviour.
What the law currently allows
Under the JAMB Act, the President appoints the Registrar and determines the terms of office. The legislation has been interpreted to allow appointment for five years with the option of renewal — meaning a registrar can serve a second five-year term if reappointed. This is the legal basis for the current arrangement and the target of the operators’ reform request. 1
Context — Professor Is-haq Oloyede’s tenure
The current JAMB registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, was first appointed in August 2016 and was reappointed for a second five-year term effective 1 August 2021. His second term therefore runs through 2026 under the existing appointment framework. Supporters credit his leadership with introducing reforms such as strengthened financial discipline and the expansion of computer-based testing; critics say extended tenures concentrate influence and reduce turnover. Official announcements and JAMB bulletins document the timeline of Professor Oloyede’s appointments. 2
Specific complaints from tutorial operators
Beyond tenure limits, operators raised secondary but related concerns about how JAMB delivers some services. They argued that centralising certain key functions — for example, restricting activities like change-of-institution requests and O’Level result uploads to JAMB offices and certified CBT centres — sidelines smaller service providers (cybercafés and independent test-prep outlets), drives up costs for candidates, and creates queues at authorised centres. The operators told reporters that decentralised, more inclusive service models would reduce congestion and cost for many families.
At the same time, many operators praised the expansion of Computer-Based Testing (CBT), which they say has helped sanitise assessment and increased demand for professional tutorial services. The view is mixed: CBT is welcomed for reducing exam malpractice, but the operators want greater inclusion of community service providers in administrative workflows so costs and access barriers are reduced.
How realistic is the single-term proposal?
Changing the tenure arrangement for the JAMB registrar requires statutory reform. Because the existing JAMB Act is the legal instrument that governs appointment terms, any move to make the registrar’s five-year tenure non-renewable would likely require amendment of the Act or an executive policy that sets a practice (though an executive-only approach would be less durable than a legislative amendment). In short: the proposal is possible but not automatic — it needs political will and formal legislative work. 3
Arguments for and against a single non-renewable term
For
- Stronger accountability: A single term reduces the incentive to curry favour for reappointment and may encourage more independent decision-making.
- Fresh leadership: Regular leadership change brings new perspectives and can accelerate reform cycles.
- Reduced entrenchment: Limits the accumulation of concentrated administrative power over long periods.
Against
- Loss of continuity: Implementation of long-term reforms can be disrupted when leadership changes frequently.
- Rewarding competence: Reappointment may be used to retain high-performing leaders whose projects benefit the institution.
- Political difficulty: Amending the Act requires parliamentary time and consensus — a slow and uncertain process.
What stakeholders say — a balanced view
Voices in education policy favour both stability and accountability. Civil society groups and some education experts recognise the value of continuity for complex reforms (for example, overhauling examination security and IT infrastructure). At the same time, private sector actors and smaller service providers worry about closed decision-making and want mechanisms that ensure transparency and easier access to JAMB services. These competing interests make the debate more than a personality question: it is about how best to govern a high-stakes national agency. For now, the public discussion is ongoing. 4
What could be a practical compromise?
Policymakers could consider a middle path: keep the five-year term but add statutory safeguards such as a performance-based review at mid-term, strengthened parliamentary oversight hearings, mandatory public disclosure of major procurement and IT contracts, and clearer channels for stakeholder input (including tutorial operators and CBT centre representatives). These reforms would preserve continuity where needed while improving accountability and transparency.
How this affects students and small businesses
For candidates, any change to tenure arrangements for JAMB leadership has indirect effect: the more important immediate issues are access to services (change of institution, result uploads), cost of registration, and integrity of the examination process. For cybercafés, tutorial centres and other micro-enterprises that depend on JAMB activity, a shift toward more open and decentralised service delivery could lower operating costs and expand market access.
Where to read the original reporting and legal text
Read the original reporting from national media on this story for full quotes and context. For legal background, consult the JAMB Act and official JAMB bulletins that record appointments and administrative notices. 5
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External references: PUNCH — original report, JAMB Act (text), JAMB bulletin — reappointment notice (Aug 2021)
If you are a tutorial operator, CBT centre owner, or parent affected by JAMB policies and would like to share your view, get in touch — we may publish selected responses.
