How JAMB’s Negligence Caused 2025 UTME Results Crisis – Reps Panel
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has attributed the crisis surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results to human negligence rather than any technical failure, faulting the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the development that has affected over 300,000 candidates nationwide.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the committee chairman, Hon. Oboku Oforji, disclosed that preliminary investigations have revealed that the widespread errors that plagued the 2025 UTME were a result of carelessness on the part of JAMB officials.
“The fault was not technical. It was caused by human error, and it was completely avoidable. Our findings so far show that negligence on the part of the JAMB team led to the current situation, which has brought untold distress to candidates, parents and the nation,” Oforji said.
The embattled 2025 UTME results, released on May 9, came under scrutiny after it was revealed that over 78 per cent of candidates scored below 200 marks out of the maximum 400, sparking outrage and protests from students and concerned stakeholders.
In response to the backlash, JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, admitted on April 14 that the results of 379,997 candidates from 157 centres, particularly in Lagos and the South-East, were affected by what he described at the time as a “technical error”.
He blamed the problem on one of the board’s technical service providers whose server update glitches caused candidates’ answers not to upload during the first three days of the examination.
However, the House Committee has now contradicted that claim, insisting that the issue was not rooted in any system failure but rather in the incompetence and inattention of JAMB personnel.
“We commend the courage of Professor Oloyede for accepting responsibility and apologising to Nigerians. However, such sincerity does not excuse the gross negligence that led to this national embarrassment,” Oforji stated.
He noted that despite the hiccup, the committee recognised the board’s overall efficiency in its examination process, especially in registration and result collation. Nonetheless, he stressed the need for major reforms.
“The committee is calling for an independent and thorough investigation into the matter, and we will push for reforms that ensure such errors never happen again,” he said.
It would be recalled that following the initial revelation by JAMB, the affected candidates were rescheduled to retake the examination between May 16 and 19, 2025.
The development has since sparked a range of reactions on social media, with many questioning the credibility of the board and demanding accountability.
In a related move, the South-East caucus of the House of Representatives had earlier called for the resignation of Professor Oloyede and demanded the cancellation of the 2025 UTME, describing the conduct of the examination as flawed and unjust.
The panel, however, expressed faith in the determination of Nigerian students, urging them to remain resolute in their academic pursuits despite the setback.
“We stand with the students and commend their eagerness to learn and grow. They are the future of our country and deserve a fair and credible education system,” Oforji concluded.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
