The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched an urgent review of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) following widespread outrage over technical failures, inconsistencies in question delivery, and alarmingly low scores.
In a statement issued by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB acknowledged receiving “an unusual volume of complaints” since results were released last Friday. The Board said it was accelerating its routine post-exam audit to immediately investigate the anomalies.
“We are particularly concerned about the volume and nature of complaints coming from certain states. As such, we’ve fast-tracked our post-UTME review process to ensure transparency and restore public confidence,” the statement read.
JAMB noted that the review will encompass all phases of the exam cycle — from registration and testing to result compilation — and will be carried out in collaboration with external experts. These include measurement and evaluation specialists, university vice-chancellors, and professionals from the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).
“Should we confirm any systemic or technical faults, we are fully prepared to apply corrective measures as we’ve done in the past,” Benjamin added.
Candidates Mobilize for Legal Redress
Meanwhile, frustration continues to mount among candidates and parents. Reports indicate that thousands of students are preparing a class-action lawsuit, alleging technical malfunctions and flawed score processing.
A social media campaign under the hashtag #ThisIsNotMyResult has gained momentum, with candidates sharing screenshots and videos purportedly showing irregularities during the exam.
Fueling the controversy is JAMB’s own statistical data, which revealed that over 1.5 million of the 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 — half of the total possible score of 400. The revelation has triggered a national debate about the integrity of the testing process and the future of high-stakes digital examinations in Nigeria.
Officials Defend Results Amid Scrutiny
Reacting to the public backlash, Education Minister Tunji Alausa defended JAMB’s computer-based testing system during an appearance on Channels Television. He credited the drop in high scores to the board’s tightened security and anti-malpractice protocols, calling it “proof that cheating is becoming nearly impossible.”
JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede also maintained that the 2025 results were consistent with previous exam cycles. “There’s nothing unusual about the performance statistics,” he said, urging the public not to “sensationalize normal outcomes.”
However, critics have called for greater transparency in the grading and moderation process, with education stakeholders warning that the credibility of the UTME is on the line.
As calls grow louder for reform and accountability, all eyes are now on the exam body’s promised review — and whether it will lead to justice for affected candidates or merely delay the controversy.
