House of Reps Launches Probe into 2025 UTME Result Error, Calls for Nationwide CBT Centres

The House of Representatives has launched a formal investigation into the technical glitch that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), raising concerns about the credibility of one of Nigeria’s most critical academic assessments.

The decision was reached during Thursday’s plenary session after a motion of urgent public importance was moved by Adewale Adebayo, a lawmaker representing Osun State. Adebayo emphasized the widespread impact the error had on candidates and their families, many of whom traveled long distances to sit for the examination.

On May 9, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released the UTME results, revealing that over 78% of candidates scored below 200 out of the possible 400 points. The results triggered a national uproar, with thousands of students and parents protesting online and offline, alleging a breach in the integrity of the examination process.

Responding to the backlash, JAMB swiftly conducted an internal review and uncovered what it described as a “major technical error.” At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede confirmed that the scores of 379,997 candidates were compromised due to server issues.

The glitch, he explained, was traced to one of JAMB’s technical service providers, whose faulty server updates in Lagos and the South-East zones prevented candidates’ responses from uploading correctly during the first three days of the UTME.

“The issue was not detected before the results were announced,” Oloyede admitted, offering an apology to affected students and the general public. He added that those impacted would be given another opportunity to sit for the exam between May 16 and May 19, 2025.

The House motion sparked a robust debate. Sada Soli, a lawmaker from Katsina State, commended Prof. Oloyede for his transparency and leadership, citing his efforts in boosting JAMB’s revenue and maintaining public trust. However, Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas cautioned that it would be premature to issue commendations before the committee’s investigation concludes.

In a decisive move, the House adopted the motion unanimously through a voice vote. Lawmakers also urged the federal government to establish Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in all 774 local government areas to ensure accessibility and prevent future disruptions.

Additionally, the House called on JAMB to release the results of under-16 candidates who participated in the 2025 UTME, following reports that some had been withheld.