Group Calls For JAMB Reform Over Examination Problem

Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo socio-political and intellectual group, on Friday, condemned the glitch that prompted the mass failure of the candidates of the five South-East states and Lagos in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Wednesday, admitted an error which he said marred the outcome of the results of the candidates of the region and Lagos State. JAMB has therefore rescheduled another examination for the affected states today.

Nzuko Umunna described the error as a “very disturbing saga”. The group therefore demanded urgent reforms in JAMB to avoid a recurrence.

This was contained in a joint statement signed by Prof Chinedu Nebo, President of Nzuko Umunna and former Minister of Power, and Dr Uju Agomoh, Executive Secretary of the organization.

Nzuko Umunna warned that failure to address the systemic issues behind the glitch could set a dangerous precedent for other national exams, including WAEC and NECO.

Quoting the statement, “The very disturbing saga of JAMB results for South-Eastern candidates has not gone unnoticed. Some of us in academia and other realms have been networking to ensure that the now notorious ‘glitch’ (INEC classic alibi for selective mutilation of processes) isn’t allowed to truncate the future of our children.”

The pan-Igbo group welcomed the apology rendered by the JAMB registrar, but questioned the decision to schedule retake exams within 48 hours of admitting fault.

The group stated that, “We appreciate the apology tendered by the JAMB Registrar, but are concerned about the fixing of the retake exams less than 48 hours after JAMB’s admission of blame for the fiascos. Given that many of our children are currently retaking the examination as of today 16th May 2025, we strongly insist that no such occurrence should happen in future.”

Nzuko Umunna also called for immediate display of the candidates’ scores upon completion of their CBT exams—similar to international standards used in global exams, such as GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL.

It said, “The UTME is a Computer-Based Test (CBT), so there’s no reason why candidates should have to wait days after the exam to receive their results. Nigerian candidates deserve the same level of dignity and clarity.

“Instant score display will promote transparency and trust; reduce suspicion and controversy; ensure that any errors or discrepancies are spotted early; help students take responsibility for their performance or contest it, if necessary.”

Group Calls For JAMB Reform Over Examination Problem is first published on The Whistler Newspaper