Society Gist
By Gite Igiehon
Thousands of Nigerian students who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are preparing to take legal action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over what they describe as widespread irregularities, technical glitches, and unexplained mass failure in the national exam.
The move follows public outrage over the release of the 2025 UTME results, which revealed that more than 1.5 million candidates out of the 1.9 million who registered for the exam — a staggering 79 percent — scored below 200. Only 12,414 candidates, less than one percent, reportedly scored 300 and above, a result that has triggered shock, anger, and despair among students, parents, and educators nationwide.
Allegations of Technical Failures and Missing Questions
Several candidates have come forward to describe troubling experiences at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers during the examination period. A candidate who sat the exam in Maitama, Abuja, recounted:
“During the examination, for my Use of English, I noticed that some of my questions were missing. I raised the alarm, and I wasn’t the only one with the issue. When my result came out, I scored 170. JAMB has not addressed the missing questions.”
Another candidate who wrote the exam on April 26 expressed disbelief over her score:
“Last year I scored 287. This year, I got 173. Many others who wrote on the same day complained that their English questions were incomplete. This result is not mine.”
Parents have echoed the students’ concerns. One parent said:
“We demand a remark from JAMB. These are exceptional students scoring below 200. Many complained of incomplete questions and other technical issues. JAMB has said nothing. This cannot be swept under the rug.”
Legal Action Gathers Momentum
Prominent education advocate and CEO of Educare, Alex Onyia, announced on Sunday that legal proceedings would begin on Monday, May 13, at the Federal High Court. Onyia disclosed that more than 8,000 affected students had submitted formal complaints demanding transparency from JAMB.
“Currently, we have 8,391 students who have sent in their complaints regarding the glitches in the JAMB 2025 exam,” Onyia posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, @winexv. “There is ample evidence to prove that JAMB’s system was inefficient, thereby causing serious harm to these students’ mental health,” he added.
The students, supported by advocacy groups and concerned parents, are requesting JAMB to release individual marking sheets, provide access to correct answers, and establish a dispute resolution process that allows candidates to challenge their scores.
“The destinies of these students are at stake,” Onyia said. “We cannot allow a system error to ruin thousands of academic dreams without accountability.”
JAMB and Government’s Response
In response to the mounting criticism, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin defended the integrity of the examination process, stating that the results reflect the true performance of the candidates. He dismissed claims of technical errors as exaggerated, insisting that the board had taken adequate measures to ensure the credibility of the exercise.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, attributed the mass failure to improved anti-malpractice protocols introduced by JAMB, claiming that the results were a reflection of a more disciplined and transparent process.
“The reason many scored lower is because we have tightened our system against cheating,” Alausa said. “It is no longer business as usual.”
However, critics argue that this explanation is insufficient and fails to address the allegations of system crashes, incomplete questions, and CBT center failures. Education experts have called on JAMB to conduct an independent audit of the examination process to restore public trust.
A System Under Scrutiny
The 2025 UTME debacle has reignited debates about the sustainability and efficiency of Nigeria’s centralized admission system. JAMB, established to standardize university admissions, has over the years been plagued by controversies ranging from server crashes and network issues to allegations of result manipulation.
While the board has made efforts to modernize the examination process through the use of computer-based testing and biometric verification, critics say the infrastructure and oversight mechanisms remain deeply flawed.
Education analyst, Prof. Bisi Adeyemo, warned that failure to address these systemic issues could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s education sector.
“We’re seeing widespread disillusionment. Students prepare for years, only to face technical glitches on the day of the exam. This is unacceptable in any credible education system.”
Calls for Reform and Accountability
As legal proceedings commence, stakeholders are calling for sweeping reforms, including:
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Independent review panels to audit JAMB’s technology and processes.
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More robust candidate support systems to handle disputes transparently.
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Sanctions for CBT centers found guilty of poor service delivery.
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A review of the exam structure and marking system to allow for greater transparency.
Students and families say their hope is not just for improved scores, but for a fair, accountable system that does not leave the future of millions at the mercy of malfunctioning computers and bureaucratic silence.
“We are not asking for favors,” one parent stated. “We are asking for fairness, clarity, and the truth.”
As the court battle begins, the country waits to see whether the voices of thousands of young Nigerians will finally be heard — or whether the 2025 UTME will become yet another chapter in the long history of exam controversies in Nigeria.
As a storm of controversy erupts across Nigeria following the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), as over 1.5 million candidates have reportedly petitioned the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over what they describe as unusually low scores and technical irregularities.
According to credible sources within JAMB, a record 1,534,654 complaints have been submitted since the release of the 2025 UTME results last week. The scale of dissatisfaction marks one of the largest public reactions in the history of the examination body.
Many of the aggrieved candidates allege technical glitches during the examination, inconsistent grading, and in some cases, complete disappearance of previously seen results. Social media platforms have since been flooded with screenshots, personal testimonies, and videos of students expressing frustration and calling for a thorough investigation.
“I studied tirelessly for this exam, but what I saw was shocking. My score doesn’t reflect my efforts or my performance on the day,” said Chioma Onuoha, a candidate from Enugu State. “JAMB must review our scripts and give us justice.”
Parents and educators have also joined the chorus of complaints, calling on the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene and ensure transparency in the UTME evaluation process. Several state chapters of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have organized peaceful protests, demanding a full audit of the exam procedures.
In response, JAMB has urged candidates to remain calm, stating that the Board is investigating all reported issues. “We understand the concerns raised and assure all candidates that every genuine complaint will be addressed appropriately. The integrity of the UTME remains our top priority,” JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said in a press release.
Despite the assurance, the number of petitions continues to climb, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction and growing distrust among students. Critics argue that this year’s controversy risks undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary education admissions process if not swiftly and transparently resolved.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on JAMB and the Ministry of Education to respond with concrete actions and restore credibility to the UTME system.
