Abuja – May 13, 2025 — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has enlisted the services of top IT professionals and educational assessment experts to probe alleged technical issues that disrupted the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The move follows widespread criticism and concerns raised by candidates and stakeholders over reported system malfunctions during the national exam. JAMB’s latest results show that out of 1.9 million candidates who sat for the exam, 1.5 million scored below 200 out of 400—an outcome many have attributed to possible glitches.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, several candidates said their poor performance was due to technical faults at exam centers. Education advocate and CEO of Educare, Alex Onyia, echoed these concerns, revealing that thousands of students are preparing to take legal action against the exam body.
“So far, 8,391 students have submitted complaints about glitches during the 2025 UTME,” Onyia wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “There is sufficient evidence that JAMB’s system was inefficient, which has severely impacted the mental health and future prospects of these students.”
Onyia demanded that JAMB release detailed mark sheets showing students’ answers, corrections, and a clear process to dispute results. “The destinies of these students are at stake,” he warned.
System Review Underway
In response to the growing controversy, JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin announced on Monday that the board had initiated a comprehensive review of its examination system. He confirmed that a team of independent experts has been commissioned to scrutinize every stage of the UTME process.
“We have engaged professionals from the *Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, senior academic officials, **Vice Chancellors, **educational measurement experts, and the *Educational Assessment and Research Network in Africa,” Benjamin stated.
He explained that the investigation is part of JAMB’s annual post-examination audit, covering areas such as registration, technical operations, exam administration, and result dissemination.
“If the review confirms the existence of system errors, we will introduce remedial measures promptly—as we have done in the past,” he added.
Limited Scope of Complaints
While JAMB acknowledged receiving complaints, it clarified that the issues were reported in only a few locations and were not reflective of the broader national outcome.
The board reiterated its commitment to fairness, stating that any candidate affected by verified technical challenges during the exam will be rescheduled for a makeup test, as part of its established protocol.
“All candidates deserve and will receive a fair opportunity. Valid concerns will be addressed without delay,” JAMB assured.
The development adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s digital examination infrastructure, as public pressure mounts on JAMB to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in future exam cycles.
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