*Apologizes for UTME errors
By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has condemned the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the glitches that marred the last last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in parts of the country.
The House also apologised to the affected candidates over the human errors that negatively affected them.
House Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies which conveyed condemnation and apology expressed deep sympathy for the candidates affected by the errors experienced during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The committee led by Chairman, Hon. Oboku Oforji, apologized to all Nigerians at a world press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee acknowledged the unfortunate situation that Nigerian children faced during the exams, a situation that has never occurred before in the history of JAMB.
Hon. Oforji noted that the committee recognizes the courage and sincerity of the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, for accepting the fault on behalf of his team and apologizing to the parents, candidates, and the nation.
The committee attributed the errors to negligence on the part of JAMB, stating that these human errors were avoidable, noting that despite JAMB’s consistent efforts throughout the examination process, errors occurred this time, affecting many candidates.
The House Committee appreciated the eagerness and determination of Nigerian students in pursuing their education to improve the future of the country.
Mr. Oforji emphasized that the members of the National Assembly share the concerns of the public and extend their apologies to the Nigerian public.
Meanwhile, the South-east Caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
The caucus cited a “catastrophic institutional failure” in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as the reason for their call.
The caucus, led by Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, criticized JAMB for the technical glitches that affected nearly 380,000 candidates, many of whom are now required to resit the exam. The caucus lamented the significant impact of the situation on all five states in the South-east.
According to the caucus, JAMB’s response to the situation has been grossly inadequate. They cited poor communication, scheduling conflicts with ongoing WAEC examinations, and the short notice given for the resit as evidence of the board’s failure. The caucus argued that the situation has caused unnecessary trauma for students and families.
The caucus noted that Prof. Oloyede’s public admission of the failure was a step in the right direction, but maintained that accountability must go beyond apologies. They believe that his resignation would allow for a thorough, independent review of the failure and restore public confidence in the examination body.
The lawmakers called for the immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME and the fixing of a new date, preferably after the Senior Secondary School Examinations (WAEC and NECO). This, they believe, would ensure that no student is disadvantaged. They also demanded the suspension of key officials responsible for JAMB’s digital operations and logistics.
The caucus reminded JAMB of its constitutional duty to guarantee equal and adequate educational opportunities for all Nigerian children. They argued that this responsibility has clearly been violated in this instance. The lawmakers cited Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that “Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.”
The caucus expressed concern that the flawed conduct of the 2025 UTME has effectively denied thousands of students in the South East their right to equal and adequate educational opportunities. They believe that JAMB’s knee-jerk approach to the situation has been anything but adequate.
The lawmakers noted that students in the South East were given less than 48 hours’ notice to appear for the rescheduled UTME, resulting in low turnout. Reports indicate that the rescheduled UTME clashed directly with ongoing WAEC papers, compounding the distress and confusion for students and families.
The South-east Caucus’ call for Prof. Oloyede’s resignation is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the 2025 UTME. The caucus’ demands are aimed at ensuring that the examination process is fair, transparent, and free from technical glitches.
