House of Representatives to Investigate Mass Failure in 2025 UTME Amid Technical Glitch Scandal
Abuja, May 16, 2025 – The Nigerian House of Representatives has resolved to launch a thorough investigation into the mass failure recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), following widespread public outcry and complaints from candidates and parents across the country. This decision comes after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admitted to significant technical errors that affected nearly 380,000 candidates’ results.
Background and Cause of the Glitch
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, publicly acknowledged that a critical technical failure occurred during the examination process, specifically affecting candidates in Lagos and South-East zones. The problem originated from an incomplete update to the exam item shuffling system in the LAG category (covering Lagos and South-East states), discovered on the second day of the exams, April 25, 2025.
Although JAMB immediately deployed a correction patch and tested it over the following days, the service providers responsible for uploading candidate responses failed to properly update some delivery servers in 65 centres in Lagos (206,610 candidates) and 92 centres in Owerri zone (173,387 candidates). This oversight went undetected before the release of results on May 9, 2025, leading to inaccurate scoring and widespread underperformance among affected candidates.
Impact and Public Reaction
Out of approximately 1.9 million candidates, over 75% scored below 200 out of 400, an unusually high failure rate that sparked intense criticism and demands for accountability. Many candidates with prior strong academic records were among those affected, leading to fears of long-term damage to their educational prospects.
The error has been described by JAMB’s Registrar as a “significant setback” and a result of “carelessness, negligence, and lack of concern” by the agents involved. JAMB has since apologized unreservedly and taken full responsibility for the incident.
House of Representatives’ Response
In response to the crisis, the House of Representatives adopted a motion of urgent public importance to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mass failure and JAMB’s handling of the situation. The investigation will examine:
- The technical causes of the error and oversight.
- JAMB’s quality assurance and result processing protocols.
- The adequacy of JAMB’s communication and response to affected candidates.
- Measures to prevent recurrence, including calls for establishing CBT centres in all 774 local government areas to ease access for candidates.
The House also urged JAMB to release results for candidates under 16 years old who participated in the exam and to ensure a fair retake process.
Retake and Remedial Measures
JAMB announced that all affected candidates from the 157 centres in Lagos and South-East zones (totaling 379,997) will be allowed to retake the examination between May 16 and May 19, 2025. Candidates are being contacted via SMS, email, and phone calls to facilitate the retake.
Expert and Stakeholder Involvement
To ensure transparency, JAMB involved external experts, including university vice chancellors, computer science professionals, and representatives from private school associations, to audit and review the examination process. The National Orientation Agency and student organizations have commended JAMB’s openness but stress the need for systemic reforms.
Broader Implications
The incident has reignited calls for comprehensive reforms within JAMB, including improved technological infrastructure, better vendor oversight, and expanded examination centres to reduce candidate hardship. The House investigation is expected to provide recommendations that could reshape Nigeria’s examination and admission system.
